Sprint Canada, Hamilton tries but is sixth
Aside from the sparks between the two Mercedes drivers, some excitement in the Montreal Sprint comes from Lewis Hamilton. The Brit, always a great protagonist on this track, makes a great start and overtakes Oscar Piastri, also giving the impression of being able to trouble Kimi Antonelli when the Bolognese pushes the tires too hard following overtaking attempts. However, his Ferrari never has the pace of the best and is clearly the third force on track: in the final stages, Hamilton has to give way to Piastri’s return and the Mercedes power unit.
Read more Sprint Canada: Mercedes and McLaren neck and neck, Ferrari 3 tenths behind
Piastri’s great move on the outside of the chicane before the finish line also costs Hamilton a top-5, as he is overtaken by the charging Charles Leclerc. Between P4 and P6, however, little changes for the Ferrari driver, who highlights the impossibility for the SF-26 to race on par with the Mercedes given such an engine difference.
Hamilton’s words
“We don’t have the straight-line pace to compete with the Mercedes, that’s clear. We lose too much on the straights,” this was his comment to Sky Sport F1. “Apart from that, the car is great in the corners, we are very fast. Mercedes has exploited the updates, but we are there. We simply aren’t fast enough to recover what we lose on the straights.”
Read more Electric car market, Polestar analyzes the growth
“I tried to hold position, but with Mercedes-powered cars it is practically impossible,” he added. “That said, we are pushing well, I feel good in the car and I hope to have a good qualifying.”
Read more 2026 Drivers’ World Championship: the standings after the Sprint in Canada
