Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was back on good form at Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix, claiming his second podium of the season after just five rounds.

Hamilton struggled during his maiden campaign in red, putting on a show of some of the most downbeat interviews and disappointing results of his illustrious career.

But 2026 presented the opportunity to wipe the slate clean and prove he made the right decision pursuing his childhood dream of signing with the Scuderia, one that paid off when he finally broke his podium curse with a P3 finish at the Chinese Grand Prix in March.

In Montreal Hamilton went one better and clinched P2 after rolling back the years with an overtake on Max Verstappen which sent the Canadian crowd into a frenzy.

But there is one really fascinating element about Hamilton’s recent success – Ferrari had absolutely nothing to do with it.

F1 HEADLINES: Verstappen ‘shame’ fury as Russell issues public apology

Hamilton Canadian GP podium proves he must be left to his own devices

Ok, so that may be slightly dramatic – the Scuderia did of course provide Hamilton with the car and the space to do what he feels is necessary prior to a race weekend.

But the 41-year-old made no secret of the fact he chose to prepare for this year’s race in Montreal on his own terms, taking an active step away from gruelling stints on the simulator back at Maranello.

The Brit found himself in a tricky position after the Miami Grand Prix earlier this month when the Italian squad’s mighty upgrades package (11 in total) seemingly did nothing for Hamilton or his team-mate Charles Leclerc.

It seemed something inside Hamilton snapped and he felt that the simulator, which drivers like Max Verstappen famously spend hours on in preparation for a grand prix, simply wasn’t working for him.

To take a step away from the help on offer from his team was bold from Hamilton, and doing it so publicly was risky.

It seemed he stepped back on his anti-simulator stance slightly during the weekend’s media sessions in Montreal, perhaps having been reined in by Ferrari’s PR team, with the champion acknowledging how far simulators have come since he first used one with McLaren in 1997.

But this didn’t change the fact that he had chosen not to use the simulator in preparation for this year’s Canadian GP, and the fact that he thrived in Montreal because he stayed away from the factory is not a good look for the Scuderia.

Fred Vasseur’s F1 squad opted not to bring any further upgrades to Canada, instead optimising the ones that were introduced in Miami, so it seems Hamilton has himself to thank mostly for Sunday’s terrific result.

The F1 superstar appeared to be the happiest he has been in years last weekend and looked more competitive than Leclerc all weekend, something which has never been a given since he became the Monegasque’s team-mate in 2025.

Hamilton on swerving Maranello to go it alone

Speaking to Viaplay in Montreal, Hamilton said of his much improved weekend: “I think the difference is, I was left less um… over the past couple of weeks I had not…. less commitments, not draining, I didn’t go to the factory, I didn’t go on a simulator, I just focused on sleep, training, but not like killing myself… and I stayed on this time zone, I got to see friends, I got to see some family, and I arrived full full of energy, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do, and where I wanted to put the car, and I arrived, and this is the formula now, I need to try and take that forwards.”

It seems the formula is simple: Bring your mum to the race, ignore Ferrari, don’t use their simulators and just go your own way, Lewis.

Hamilton doubles down on anti-simulator stance

So, will the seven-time champion continue to follow what could end up being the winning formula to finally help him land his first grand prix victory since the 2024 Belgian GP?

As long as Ferrari allow him to march to the beat of his own drum, it certainly seems that way.

Speaking in Sunday’s post-race press conference, the 105-time grand prix winner confirmed his decision to continue working away from the simulator, saying: “Whether or not I use it to prepare for another race? Probably not. There are just too many risks.

“If you look at the two best races I’ve had, I didn’t use a simulator. And that’s honestly how it was. Pretty much all the championships before, except for probably 2008, I didn’t use the sim. So it’s not a necessity. It’s a tool that can be powerful. But for me, I’m old school. I’m probably better without it.”

F1 STANDINGS: What Canada means for Verstappen Red Bull exit clause

Related

F1 champions Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton entertained fans with a podium battle at the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday.

It’s a rare sight to see Verstappen and Hamilton fighting for position in recent years, but the legends of F1 found themselves in contention for the podium in Montreal.

They were helped in part by both McLarens, who started on the intermediate tyres, which meant they had to pit early on as it became increasingly clear the track would remain dry and no further rain was expected.

Furthermore, when the Mercedes of George Russell retired with a battery issue, Verstappen and Hamilton were promoted up to second and third respectively with the Ferrari driver being the faster of the pair when he pitted for medium tyres.

Hamilton eventually produced a stunning overtake on lap 62, where he managed to get past Verstappen on the outside entering Turn 1, where from there he held onto second place to secure his best race since joining Ferrari.

F1 HEADLINES: FIA investigate Hamilton, F1 star fumes ‘It’s completely s***’

Verstappen unimpressed by Canadian GP podium

The seven-time cut a buoyant figure when he bounded up to race winner Antonelli and lifted him up at parc ferme, and was equally as jubilant speaking to the media afterwards.

Despite his first podium of 2026, Verstappen was less enthused and explained that Red Bull were not quick enough to properly fight Hamilton in Canada.

Speaking to Sky Sports’ Rachel Brookes, Verstappen said: “We were not quick enough for second, for sure not, but also, of course, because of the retirement of George, normally the two Mercedes guns would have taken off, so yeah, for us a positive result,”

“I think on the software, a little bit more competitive on the medium [tyre], I just couldn’t generate the tyre temp that we needed around here, and that just didn’t give us the good feeling on the tyres.

“They were just never really gripping, they were never in the window, and that’s why I think on that stint it was just a bit more difficult for us, but nevertheless, I think we had a good result, you know, for us to be on the podium.”

READ MORE: Mercedes F1 drivers at war as team boss Wolff forced to intervene at Canadian GP

Related

George Russell took victory in Saturday’s Canadian Grand Prix sprint race, but was made to work by Kimi Antonelli and McLaren‘s Lando Norris.

The first cracks began to emerge in harmony between the Mercedes driver pairing at the start of Lap 6, with Antonelli closing up on the back of his team-mate and making a move into Turn 1 only to be squeezed unceremoniously onto the grass through Turn 2.

The pair nearly came to blows again when Antonelli made another passing attempt, getting alongside the sister Mercedes only to bounce across the grass again and lose out not only Russell, but also Norris.

Norris took advantage of the work put into the Mercedes’ tyres to close right up onto Russell, harassing him for the remainder of the 23-lap race while himself being harassed by Antonelli.

There was another close fight a few seconds behind the leading trio, with Oscar Piastri sandwiched between the Ferrari pair – behind Lewis Hamilton but ahead of Charles Leclerc.

A dramatic final lap and a half saw Antonelli go off track for the third time in half an hour while attempting an overtake, once again conceding the spot, while both Piastri and Leclerc swamped Hamilton for fourth and fifth respectively.

Further down the field, Sergio Perez was once again outside the points, but finished a very creditable 11th place – by far the best finish for a Cadillac in the American team’s short history. Even being dropped to 14th by a 10-second penalty applied post-race won’t dampen the team’s enjoyment of the sprint too much.

F1 HEADLINES: Hamilton Ferrari contract extension details, Ricciardo back in pitlane

F1 Canadian Grand Prix Sprint Race Results

READ MORE: Verstappen announces he IS staying in F1 but does not rule out Red Bull exit

Related