LEWIS HAMILTON IS FINALLY DRIVING LIKE HIMSELF AGAIN – BUT IS THE FERRARI REVIVAL REAL?
For the first time since joining Ferrari, Lewis looked genuinely relaxed, confident, and optimistic. Meanwhile, Leclerc was left searching for answers after what he described as one of the most difficult weekends of his Formula 1 career. The contrast could not have been more striking.
Leclerc admitted: "It's been one of, if not the, worst weekend of my career. I have work to do to get to Lewis's level on a day like this. I will look into the data. I've gone through difficult races [before] where you analyse after and you learn a lot."
On the other side of the garage, Lewis sounded like a driver who had finally found his place.
"The happiest day of my Ferrari days so far. I finally have the engineering team that I've been working towards. I think our car is great. I can understand it and am a lot more comfortable with it. While we're not exactly where we want to be, getting this result has capitalised on our great reliability. I feel very light right now, mentally in a good place."
For Lewis Hamilton fans, those words were hugely significant. After years of frustration during Formula 1's ground-effect era and a difficult first season with Ferrari, this felt different. This felt like a driver rediscovering the confidence that made him a seven-time world champion.
The question now is whether Canada marked a genuine turning point in Lewis' Ferrari career or simply a perfect storm of circumstances.
Why Lewis Looked Like The Old Lewis Again
Watching Lewis around Montreal was a reminder of what made him one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time. From the opening practice sessions, he appeared comfortable attacking the circuit. The famous walls of Montreal have caught out many great drivers over the years, yet Lewis looked completely at ease dancing the Ferrari between them.
There were moments during practice where he had to rescue the car from small mistakes, but that only highlighted how committed he was. He was driving instinctively again. Most importantly, he looked connected to the SF-26.
Throughout the ground-effect era, there were countless races where Lewis appeared to be fighting the car. The balance never quite suited him. The confidence was often missing. In Canada, that battle disappeared. Instead, Lewis looked completely synchronized with the Ferrari.
The Ferrari Characteristics That Suit Lewis
One of Ferrari's greatest strengths in F1 2026 is the car's incredible mid-corner adjustability. Many experts believe the SF-26 possesses the best mid-corner balance on the entire grid. For Lewis, this is crucial.
His driving style has always relied on braking deep into corners before expertly rotating the car and carrying exceptional speed through the apex. The magic comes in the transition phase.
Lewis is able to brake later than most drivers while still finding the perfect rotation point as he comes off the brake pedal. He avoids scrubbing speed on exit and maximizes momentum through the corner. It is a style built on precision and confidence. And right now, the Ferrari is finally allowing him to drive that way again. That wasn't possible under the previous generation of Formula 1 regulations.
Why Ground Effect Cars Hurt Lewis
The ground-effect era exposed a fundamental mismatch between Lewis' natural instincts and the characteristics of those cars. Ground-effect cars demanded stability above everything else. They required drivers to maintain an extremely stable aerodynamic platform to maximize downforce. Any sudden steering input, aggressive braking, or dramatic weight transfer could upset the balance and cost lap time.
Unfortunately for Lewis, those aggressive traits have always been part of what makes him special.
His late braking.
His confidence on entry.
His ability to attack corners.
Those strengths suddenly became weaknesses. The aerodynamic balance of ground-effect cars constantly shifted during braking and corner entry. The front end would gain grip before suddenly losing it as weight transferred rearward. For Lewis, who relies heavily on feeling the front tyres and rotating the car aggressively, it created an uncomfortable compromise.
He could still be fast. But extracting the final two or three tenths became incredibly difficult. Now, Formula 1 has moved on.
Why F1 2026 Has Changed Everything
The current Formula 1 regulations have transformed the way the cars behave. Ride heights are higher. Suspension systems are more compliant. Drivers have greater freedom to attack corners without destabilizing the entire aerodynamic platform.
For Lewis, it feels like Formula 1 has returned to him. The muscle memory that appeared to work against him since 2022 suddenly makes perfect sense again. Every instinct he built throughout his career is becoming valuable once more.
Even more importantly, Ferrari's engineers have spent months learning exactly what Lewis needs from a car. That development process is finally beginning to pay dividends.
Lewis And Ferrari Are Finally Speaking The Same Language
Perhaps the most encouraging part of Lewis' comments after Canada was his praise for the engineering team.
"The happiest day of my Ferrari days so far. I finally have the engineering team that I've been working towards."
That statement should not be underestimated. Formula 1 success is built on trust. Drivers need engineers who understand what they are feeling. Engineers need drivers who can accurately communicate those feelings. It often takes time to build that relationship.
For Lewis, that process appears to be reaching a new level. After more than a year with Ferrari, both sides finally seem aligned. That creates confidence. And confidence creates speed.
But We Should Not Get Carried Away Yet
As exciting as Canada's performance was, there are valid reasons to remain cautious. First, Montreal has always been one of Lewis' strongest circuits. Historically, Canada, Shanghai, and Singapore have been among his very best tracks.
Interestingly, two of those circuits have appeared within the opening phase of the 2026 season. In both Shanghai and Montreal, Lewis outperformed Leclerc. But he has done that before. Even during his difficult 2025 season, these were tracks where he consistently excelled. That means Canada may not be entirely representative of the bigger picture.
Leclerc's Weekend Was Far From Normal
Another important factor is Leclerc's struggles. Leclerc himself described Canada as potentially the worst weekend of his Formula 1 career. That matters because comparisons are only meaningful when both drivers perform near their normal level.
Leclerc admitted he simply could not get his tyres into the required operating window. On modern Formula 1 tyres, the difference between being inside and outside the correct temperature range is enormous. It really is like flipping a switch.
If the tyres never reach that window, lap time disappears instantly. Montreal's low grip surface, cool temperatures, and slow-speed corners made that challenge even greater. The result was a Ferrari driver who never looked comfortable.
Why Leclerc Struggled More Than Lewis
The fascinating element is that Leclerc's driving style may actually have amplified the problem. Leclerc drives with extraordinary confidence in oversteer situations. He often relies on subtle weight transfers, dynamic balance changes, and precise throttle inputs to rotate the car. His style is incredibly sophisticated.
However, on a weekend where front tyre temperature was critical, that approach may have worked against him. Lewis naturally loads the front tyres more aggressively through braking and steering input. That can help generate temperature.
Leclerc's smoother approach may have left him chasing grip all weekend. The result was a rare occasion where Lewis held a clear advantage.
Monaco Could Change The Narrative Again
Before anyone declares Lewis Ferrari's new benchmark driver, there is another circuit looming on the horizon. Monaco. And Monaco has long been Leclerc territory.
Few drivers in modern Formula 1 history have demonstrated the level of mastery around Monaco that Leclerc has shown. His performances there over the last five years have often been breathtaking. If Formula 1 held only one race per year and that race was Monaco, there would be a strong argument that Leclerc is the greatest driver on the grid. He is simply extraordinary around those streets.
The Ferrari's characteristics also appear perfectly suited to Monaco. Its excellent low-speed balance, strong traction, and responsive turbo system should make it extremely competitive. An all-Ferrari front row would surprise nobody.
The Simulator Question Remains Unanswered
Another fascinating subplot involves Ferrari's simulator. Lewis has repeatedly questioned whether the simulator accurately reflects what he experiences when he arrives at the circuit. He believes important details are still missing.
Interestingly, he chose not to use the simulator extensively before both Shanghai and Montreal. Those races turned out to be his strongest performances of the season. That raises an obvious question.
Is Lewis better without the simulator?
The answer is not necessarily. Shanghai and Montreal have always suited him naturally. The true test will come when Ferrari visits circuits that have historically challenged him. Only then will we know whether abandoning the simulator provides a genuine advantage.
Have The New Regulations Helped Lewis?
The evidence increasingly suggests they have. The revised aerodynamic regulations appear to have removed many of the limitations that frustrated Lewis during the ground-effect era.
At the same time, the increased importance of battery management may have slightly reduced some of the advantages traditionally enjoyed by Leclerc. Neither factor alone explains everything. But together they have clearly narrowed the gap between the two Ferrari drivers.
The Real Picture Between Lewis And Leclerc
To properly assess their performance levels, we need to examine the broader season. Remove Shanghai and Montreal from the equation due to their historical bias toward Lewis. That leaves Melbourne, Suzuka, and Miami.
Across those races, the battle was significantly closer than during 2025. However, Leclerc still held a slight edge overall. He remained Ferrari's sharpest weapon on most weekends. That does not diminish Lewis' progress. In fact, it highlights how much improvement he has made. The question now is whether Lewis can eliminate it entirely.
Final Thoughts: Is Lewis Really Back?
The Canadian Grand Prix delivered something Lewis Hamilton fans have desperately wanted to see.
Confidence.
Comfort.
Belief.
For the first time since joining Ferrari, Lewis looked completely at home in the car.
The pace was there.
The aggression was there.
The happiness was there.
But Formula 1 seasons are not judged by one race. They are judged by consistency. The next few races will reveal whether Canada was the start of a genuine resurgence or simply another reminder of how brilliant Lewis can be at certain circuits. Either way, one thing is becoming increasingly clear. Lewis is no longer fighting the Ferrari.
And that alone should make every Formula 1 rival nervous.
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