Despite Lewis Hamilton looking strong throughout Friday in Montreal, qualifying left the Brit wanting more once again.
However, there seems to be a deeper reason behind his struggles.
From the opening round in Australia, it’s been clear that Mercedes has hit the ground running in the new regulations. The W17 utilised a loophole in the rules to create a superior power unit, giving them a significant edge.
While Ferrari and McLaren have settled into second place, following the first set of upgrades in Miami, McLaren took a clear step ahead of Ferrari. While the Maranello team have a strong car in many departments, the fact that McLaren is a Mercedes customer team is inescapable on track.
Throughout the Sprint Race and qualifying, the data from the cars show the same problems and deficiencies of the Ferrari rearing its head.
Looking at Q3, Hamilton is actually stronger in the opening of the lap. The Ferrari driver was able to maintain higher apex speed through the first corners and was aggressive on the throttle.
Unfortunately, this shifts by Turns 8 and 9, where Russell gets ahead of Hamilton and then further on the straights, where the lack of engine power becomes more prevalent.
Losing time in the final straight
With a longer final straight in Canada than in most races, the engine power has a larger impact than in other rounds. Notably, the data show that Ferrari enters that final corner with their energy almost completely depleted compared to the McLaren and Mercedes, leaving them time lost in the final few metres.
When you look at the telemetry for Hamilton’s laps compared to Russell and Norris, it’s in this final stretch that the gap between the Ferrari driver grows. Both teams have their strengths, and until the final corners, the difference is largely down to the driver’s lap.
However, in just that final straight, the place was cemented.
It wasn’t impossible for Hamilton to beat the McLaren and Mercedes; in fact, the Briton showed pace throughout the weekend. Canada is one of Hamilton’s best tracks, and all weekend, he’s been ahead of his teammate, Charles Leclerc. While the Monegasque has struggled to adapt to the low-grip track, Hamilton adjusted quickly and looked strong.
The Sprint also showed that the Ferraris’ race pace is lacking compared to the McLarens and Mercedes, and they are struggling to make up ground. With a longer race, pit stops, and different strategies, it’ll be on Ferrari to find a way to get ahead of their rivals with more points up for grabs.
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