Hamilton Outqualifies Leclerc in Both Sessions at Canadian GP Without Simulator Work

Lewis Hamilton has taken a notable approach heading into the Canadian Grand Prix, choosing to avoid Ferrari’s simulator in his preparation for the Montreal weekend.
The decision appears to be producing results on track, with Hamilton consistently outperforming team-mate Charles Leclerc across every qualifying segment at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Hamilton beat Leclerc by 0.084 seconds during the sprint qualifying session, establishing himself as the faster Ferrari driver from the outset of the weekend.
The seven-time world champion then extended that advantage in the main qualifying session, this time edging out his team-mate by a margin of 0.108 seconds.
Across all six qualifying segments contested at the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, Hamilton recorded a faster time than Leclerc in every single one.
The consistency of that performance makes the simulator-free preparation strategy particularly significant, given Ferrari’s heavy reliance on simulation tools for circuit familiarisation and setup work.
Hamilton joined Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season after a long and highly successful stint at Mercedes, where he claimed six of his seven drivers’ championships.
The transition to a new team always presents challenges, and many expected Hamilton to lean heavily on Ferrari’s technical resources to accelerate his integration into the squad.
Instead, Hamilton has taken a different path at Montreal, opting to rely on his own experience and racecraft rather than simulator preparation ahead of the event.
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a track Hamilton knows well, having won the Canadian Grand Prix on multiple occasions throughout his career in Formula 1.
That familiarity with the circuit may have contributed to his confidence in stepping away from the simulator without compromising his competitive pace against Leclerc.
Leclerc, a proven front-runner and one of the quickest drivers on the grid, represents a strong internal benchmark for Hamilton as he continues to adapt to Ferrari machinery.
Being outqualified in both sessions by a team-mate using a less conventional preparation method raises questions about how Leclerc will respond in the races that follow.
The sprint race format at Montreal gives both drivers an additional competitive opportunity before the main grand prix, adding further significance to the qualifying results already achieved.
Hamilton’s early form at Ferrari has drawn considerable attention, and his Canadian GP qualifying performance adds another chapter to what has been a compelling start to his time with the Scuderia.
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