Lewis Hamilton sends clear message on Ferrari future after major turnaround

The seven-time world champion, who endured a challenging debut campaign with the Maranello-based outfit, saw a clear improvement in fortunes in Montreal. Hamilton finished on the podium and was much closer to the front-runners, a turnaround that came after he opted to step away from the simulator, citing a lack of correlation with real-world performance.

Asked about the sense of relief amid his improved form since that decision, Hamilton told GPblog and other outlets about the scale of work being done behind the scenes to extract results. The seven-time champion also stressed his determination not to become another driver who passes through Ferrari without leaving a meaningful impact.

“Most people do not realise the work that is done and has to be done in the background. Of course, you see drivers who came in the past driving by; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. For me, I have come to a team where every inch of this team means so many things,” he explained.

The British driver also acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge ahead, while highlighting the influence and support of Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur.

The seven-time champion concluded by noting how the improved results recorded were largely a reflection of the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes in achieving an overall improved outcome with the team.

Hamilton’s 2026 campaign has so far panned out to be a sharp contrast to what was experienced in his debut year in 2025. The 41-year-old has racked up two podium finishes through the first five races of the season, after failing to achieve any in his maiden year with the team.

Earlier, Ralf Schumacher backed Hamilton to outshine Charles Leclerc at the Monaco Grand Prix in his recent assessment of the Ferrari intra-team battle.

The former Formula 1 driver threw his support behind the seven-time world champion in the battle with his Scuderia Ferrari teammate ahead of the race in the Principality. Schumacher suggested Hamilton currently looks to be in a stronger position than many might have expected at this stage.

Schumacher pointed to Hamilton’s overall demeanour during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, contrasting it with that of Leclerc: “Now he feels good. First, he felt good on the track, and second, he felt good with the car. He just delivered, certainly in relation to Charles Leclerc,” he explained. “Charles Leclerc had been like that all weekend. You can see how fast it can go like that. He couldn’t handle the car well, and Lewis did a perfect job.”

While Schumacher has hinted at Hamilton being the favourite of the Ferrari duo this weekend, it is worth noting that the British driver is yet to finish ahead of Leclerc at the Monaco Grand Prix in the last two editions. His last time finishing ahead of Leclerc in Monaco came in 2023, when he finished fourth in the Mercedes, with Leclerc crossing the line in sixth place.