Lewis Hamilton Confident Ferrari Can Still Build the Fastest Car in… read more 👇 details in the comments section
remains optimistic about Ferrari’s chances of becoming the quickest team on the Formula 1 grid this season, despite the challenges the Italian outfit continues to face under the new 2026 regulations. The seven-time world champion has repeatedly praised the progress being made at and believes the team still has plenty of room for improvement as the campaign develops.
Hamilton’s mood around the paddock has been noticeably more positive this year compared to the difficult end he endured during the 2025 season. After several frustrating weekends last year, the British driver often appeared disappointed and disconnected, but his outlook has completely changed since joining Ferrari’s latest project. Throughout the Canadian Grand Prix weekend in Montreal, Hamilton consistently spoke highly of the car and the atmosphere within the team, even describing the machine as “fantastic” following qualifying.
The pace shown by Ferrari during practice sessions and sprint events in Canada suggested the team could challenge near the very front. Hamilton looked competitive during multiple stages of the weekend and frequently matched the leading times set by Mercedes and McLaren. However, despite the encouraging speed, results have not entirely reflected Ferrari’s potential.
Hamilton ended both qualifying sessions in fifth place and crossed the line sixth in the sprint race, finishing behind his Ferrari team-mate . While those positions may not appear disastrous, they highlighted one of Ferrari’s biggest weaknesses at the moment — a lack of outright engine performance compared to some of their rivals.
According to Hamilton, Ferrari’s chassis and overall car balance are among the strongest on the grid. The handling through corners has been impressive, allowing both Ferrari drivers to remain competitive in technical sections of circuits. However, the team continues to lose valuable time on long straights, especially against the Mercedes-powered cars that currently dominate in top-end speed.
The Canadian Grand Prix circuit is particularly demanding on engine performance because of its long acceleration zones and heavy braking areas. Hamilton admitted that Ferrari’s current power deficit becomes even more noticeable at a track like Montreal, where straight-line speed can make a major difference during overtaking battles and qualifying laps.
Despite that limitation, Hamilton still expressed complete confidence in Ferrari’s ability to improve as the season progresses. Speaking during interviews after qualifying, he praised the engineers and staff working back at the Maranello factory for producing such a competitive chassis under the all-new regulations.
Hamilton explained that Formula 1 is always a development race, where teams constantly bring upgrades in an effort to gain small but crucial advantages. He stressed that every team follows a different schedule for introducing improvements, meaning fortunes can quickly change over the course of a season.
The veteran driver believes Ferrari are still capable of closing the gap to the front if they continue refining the car and finding more performance. While he acknowledged that the engine deficit remains frustrating, he also pointed out that Ferrari’s reliability has been extremely strong so far this year.
That reliability could become an important factor later in the championship, particularly if rival teams begin suffering mechanical issues while chasing additional speed. Hamilton made it clear that everyone inside Ferrari has worked tirelessly on the power unit, and he fully appreciates the effort being made behind the scenes.
Still, he admitted that competing against the superior straight-line speed of Mercedes-powered rivals remains incredibly difficult. Even when Ferrari gains time through corners, the advantage can disappear quickly on long straights where other teams simply have more power available.
Hamilton suggested that Ferrari may need to maximise performance in other areas rather than relying solely on engine gains. At circuits featuring more medium and high-speed corners, Ferrari’s strong chassis could allow the team to fight much closer to the front and potentially challenge for victories.
The 2026 season is already shaping up to be a fierce development battle between several top teams, with performance swings expected throughout the year as upgrades arrive. Hamilton appears convinced Ferrari can remain firmly in that fight, especially if the team continues improving aerodynamics and extracting more pace from the package they already have.
Although Ferrari are not currently the outright fastest team, Hamilton’s confidence reflects the growing belief inside the garage that the foundations are strong. The Brit’s positivity has also become one of the biggest talking points of the season, with many noticing how refreshed and motivated he appears since beginning this new chapter of his career.
For now, Ferrari may still be searching for the final pieces needed to consistently beat Mercedes and McLaren, but Hamilton clearly believes the team has the potential to get there. With a long season still ahead and development races often deciding championships, the seven-time world champion is refusing to rule Ferrari out of the fight for the fastest car in Formula 1.