Ralf Schumacher Backs Lewis Hamilton For Monaco Grand Prix Victory

Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher believes Lewis Hamilton is a genuine contender to win the Monaco Grand Prix with Ferrari.
Schumacher shared his thoughts on the Backstage Boxengasse Podcast, suggesting Hamilton has finally found a strong connection with his Ferrari car.
The seven-time world champion endured a difficult weekend in Miami before bouncing back with a second-place finish in Canada.
That result in Montreal is the best Hamilton has achieved for Ferrari so far, cutting the championship gap to teammate Charles Leclerc to just three points.
Schumacher described the turnaround in Canada as a complete change, with everything finally clicking into place for the British driver.
“It’s a classic scenario,” Schumacher remarked. “He was in top form in the penultimate race, but then had some car troubles in Miami and fell behind all weekend.”
The former Williams driver noted that the atmosphere around Hamilton after the Canadian race was one of visible relief and happiness.
“You could see how happy he was, almost as if he’d just won. And I can completely understand that feeling. After Miami, he was nowhere near satisfied. So, I’m really happy for him.”
While Hamilton was climbing, Leclerc struggled throughout the Canadian weekend, with Schumacher observing clear signs of tension in the Monegasque driver’s approach.
“Leclerc appeared tense throughout, which is a clear sign of how quickly things can change in these races,” Schumacher observed. “He just couldn’t get comfortable in the car, while Lewis executed a flawless performance.”
Schumacher also noted that unfavourable conditions contributed to Leclerc’s difficulties, with setup problems and an overly aggressive approach to the car compounding his struggles.
“Somehow, he couldn’t settle on the right setup and even ended up pushing the car too hard,” Schumacher continued. “That kind of tension was evident, much like what Hamilton went through in Miami.”
Looking ahead to Monaco, Schumacher highlighted that rival team McLaren also failed to maximise their potential in Canada, which could benefit Ferrari going forward.
“They made some poor decisions over the weekend, which makes it hard to say if Ferrari and Hamilton would have finished second had both McLarens been fully in the mix,” he said.
Schumacher identified Monaco’s specific characteristics as suiting the Ferrari car particularly well, pointing to traction and kerb handling as key strengths of the Italian team’s package.
“Monaco is all about traction and handling over curbs, areas where the Ferrari really shines,” Schumacher emphasised, backing the Prancing Horse to fight at the very front of the field.
“They’re definitely in contention for the win. Hamilton, in particular, feels very comfortable on this circuit; both he and the car clearly love it. However, Leclerc has also been exceptionally strong in Monaco in the past, so it will be fascinating to see which of them comes out on top.”
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