Lewis Hamilton has revealed how skipping Ferrari’s simulator resulted in “the best qualifying session” in a while for him at the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix weekend.
Hamilton took the lead of the Sprint qualifying head-to-head, this season, over Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, on Friday.
The seven-time F1 World Champion slotted his SF-26 on the third row, with the fifth-fastest lap of SQ3. The Monegasque is slated to start from sixth for the 100 KM sprint event on Saturday.
In fact, Hamilton was squarely in the battle for the Sprint pole. That said, a snap of oversteer coming out of the Turn 2 hairpin on his first flying effort, which he abandoned, compromised his second run.
Notwithstanding, the 41-year-old has so far enjoyed a cohesive outing in Montreal, even calling his Sprint qualifying exploits “the best qualifying session” he’s had for a while.
“Yeah, great, probably the best qualifying session we had for some time,” he said.
“Just really great work with the engineers. Setup changes, the car felt really fantastic from P1 and we made just subtle changes going into quali.
“P1 and P2 was looking good, and then I don’t know why the others are able to like turn up a little bit more, I don’t know, but I’m just happy to be there in a fight.”
The former McLaren and Mercedes driver explained how he feels he’s found a new “way forward” after skipping the Scuderia’s simulator over time with his engineers.
“I was having so much fun out there, and also, the fact that I didn’t do the sim, and I feel it’s the best I felt all year. So, I think that’s the way forward for me,” he added.
Lewis Hamilton details his Ferrari inroads at F1 Canadian GP
Hamilton’s decision to skip his simulator duties seems to have paid off well for the 41-year-old.
He explained how, instead, he sifted through the data with his engineers to make sure that the car is aligned with his driving style – a decision he hopes will pay dividends throughout the weekend.
“We worked pretty hard sifting through the data the last couple of weeks,” Hamilton said.
“I found that so much more beneficial in terms of, one, I was able to then just focus on training and not be distracted, and then the second part is just really going through with a fine comb with ride stability, through-corner balances and mechanical balance.
“I chose a setup that we’ve not used – I don’t think we’ve ever used it actually before – and it’s transformed the car for me, so I hope that bodes well for the rest of the weekend.”
Hamilton will jump straight out of the Sprint race and into Qualifying for the Canadian GP on Saturday – hoping to convert his Friday form into his second Grand Prix podium for Ferrari, this weekend.
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