Lewis Hamilton reveals unseen Ferrari engine glitch that cost him at Canadian Grand Prix

Follow us on Google Discover

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has revealed that a power shortage cost him at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Hamilton qualified fifth for Sunday’s race, but appeared to have more potential earlier in qualifying. The seven-time world champion had been second fastest in Q2 and was provisionally on the front row after the first runs in Q3.

But after failing to improve on the second run in qualifying, he was bumped down to P5. That still put him three spots ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc – a rare occurrence on a Saturday – but perhaps didn’t reflect his full potential.

‘I didn’t actually make a mistake’ – Lewis Hamilton on Q3 issue at Canadian Grand Prix

Speaking on the drivers’ parade shortly before Sunday’s race, Hamilton suggested he could have been third behind the two Mercedes drivers had Q3 gone smoothly. The gap to Lando Norris in P3 was around a tenth and a half, with polesitter George Russell three tenths ahead.

Hamilton backed off at the end of the session, but he says this was down to a power unit issue rather than a mistake. This in turn meant the straight-line mode on his Ferrari, which opens the wings and reduces the drag, wasn’t properly activated.

“For sure, I think that we could have been challenging for third yesterday perhaps, and the same the day before,” said Hamilton. “I’m wringing its neck and trying to get the maximum, and when that happens, things don’t go so right.

“I didn’t actually make a mistake on my last lap. There was something else where the power was too low, so then the SM didn’t work.”

Hamilton has repeatedly complained about a lack of power during races this season, particularly in Japan and Miami. This suggests that Ferrari, at least on his side of the garage, are still trying to master the new energy management protocols.

The 41-year-old has changed his approach heading into this weekend’s race. Hamilton elected not to use Ferrari’s simulator after deciding that it led him down the wrong set-up path in Miami.

Based on his single-lap pace relative to Leclerc, it’s a gamble that paid off.