Warning for front runners: 'Hamilton is producing something special'

Williams team principal James Vowles has delivered a warning to the front runners using his old Mercedes knowledge. Vowles was previously motorsport strategy director at the Silver Arrows, before moving to Williams at the start of 2023.

Lewis Hamilton produced a stunning lap in FP3, finishing the session nearly four-tenths ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen. The Mercedes driver took his first win at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 2007, and Vowles, who worked with Hamilton since 2013, knows what the Brit can produce around this track.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 straight after the session, Vowles predicted that Hamilton could challenge this weekend with Canada being one of his favourite tracks. "You get that every now and again when he's really comfortable in the car, there's something special that comes out. There's one I remember with Singapore a few years ago, and this is one of the tracks he loves. He loves absolutely just edging out to the limits, and I think that was a pretty good lap for him at the time."

Hamilton hasn't taken pole since Hungary 2023 and hasn't won a race since 2021 in Saudi Arabia. In Canada, he also received the front wing upgrade that George Russell had in Monaco and the upgrade could be the one that turns their season around.