Lewis Hamilton arrives at the Monaco Grand Prix of Formula 1, facing an opportunity that could represent his greatest show of strength since joining Ferrari. After a convincing performance in Canada where he secured P2, the seven-time world champion could take an important step within the Italian team if he manages to surpass Charles Leclerc on one of the circuits most favorable to the Monegasque.
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Formula 1 is experiencing a moment where Hamilton seems increasingly adapted to the Ferrari car. After a difficult 2025, the Briton significantly reduced the gap to his teammate in 2026 and already has two podiums this season, something he had not achieved last year.
At the Canadian GP, Hamilton finished in second place and crossed the finish line 34 seconds ahead of Leclerc. Although the Monegasque slowed down in the final laps, the British driver showed greater confidence and consistency throughout the race, displaying good control of the SF-26.
The numbers also show significant progress. In direct qualifying battles, Leclerc leads by just 3 to 2 in 2026, a significant contrast to the 19 to 5 dominance recorded by the Monegasque last season. Hamilton’s advancement reinforces the perception that he is becoming increasingly comfortable within the Italian team.
However, the challenge in Monaco promises to be much greater. Leclerc has built a reputation as a specialist on the streets of Monte Carlo, and whenever he has finished the race, he has only finished behind a teammate on one occasion, in 2022, when a strategic decision by Ferrari compromised his chance of victory. Additionally, the Monegasque has three pole positions at the circuit and has consistently stood out in fast laps on his home track.
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Hamilton, on the other hand, has not experienced his best recent moments in Monaco. In the last five seasons contested in the Principality, he was outperformed by teammates on four occasions. In 2025, for example, he was three tenths behind Leclerc in qualifying, received a three-position grid penalty, and finished the race 48 seconds behind his teammate.
The performance in Canada also had repercussions off the track. According to Rob Smedley, former engineer of Felipe Massa, Hamilton managed to exert psychological pressure on Leclerc by being faster during the Canadian weekend. For Smedley, the fact that the Monegasque classified that event as one of his worst weekends in Formula 1 demonstrates the impact caused by the seven-time champion’s performance.
Therefore, a personal victory of Hamilton over Leclerc in Monaco would carry much more weight than the result obtained in Canada. Besides strengthening his internal position at Ferrari, the Briton could change the dynamics of power within the team at an important moment of the season, precisely when Ferrari seeks to reduce the gap to Mercedes after the first five rounds of the 2026 season.
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