Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari’s power shortfall is preventing them from being able to rival Mercedes, whose domination of the season continued in Canada.
The seven-times world champion made his comments as the FIA is preparing to apply its new Additional Development Upgrade Opportunity regulations for the first time. Any manufacturer whose combustion engines are found to be at a significant disadvantage will given extra opportunities to improve them.
Ferrari have previously indicated they believe they will be entitled to such an upgrade. Hamilton, who finished 10 seconds behind race winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli in Canada, said the differences in their power units was the key reason Ferrari were at a disadvantage.
“If you take away the power deficit, we’re in the fight with these guys,” said Hamilton. “But unfortunately that’s not the way it is today.
“I think in the moment I’m like, ‘I need more power somehow,’ because I’m able to hold on or keep up with them through the corners and I can’t push the pedal any further. And you see them just eking out the straight and you catch them back in the brakes, they eke it out in the straight. It’s really hard.
“Even when you get the overtake [mode],when you get within a second, they still pull away. So that’s how much grunt that they have, and we’re massively down.
“But I really hope with this new rule that enables us to try to improve [and find] some performance, so we can get back in the fight with them.”
However Hamilton predicted “Monaco should be fun” as Ferrari’s power shortfall will be less of a disadvantage at the slowest track on the F1 calendar.
“I mean, that’s the one track that power is not king. I think that’s definitely car performance. I think our car could be really strong there.
“I’m really going to focus on making sure I arrive with the same energy as I had this weekend, really study hard with the engineers to make sure we position the car in the right place from practice one.”
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2026 Canadian Grand Prix
- Power deficit is keeping Ferrari out of the fight with Mercedes – Hamilton
- ‘Actually an opportunity’: How McLaren answered drivers’ calls to ditch tyre gamble
- “He needs to back up”: How Mercedes managed Russell and Antonelli’s Canadian GP fight
- ‘It doesn’t feel like what motorsport should be’: Podium trio still unhappy with F1’s power units
- Hamilton grateful Ferrari “moved mountains” for him after scoring his best result for team
Published by
Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 – when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring journalist, Keith began running the site full-time in 2010, achieving a long-held ambition to dedicate his full attention to his passion for motor racing. View all posts by Keith Collantine