P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff responded to Lewis Hamilton’s speed during sprint qualifying at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Despite Mercedes introducing ambitious F1 upgrades for the Canadian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton remains competitive and is taking the fight to his former team. The on-track action started early in Montreal with the third sprint weekend of the 2026 season. Mercedes brought several upgrades for the race, including an updated front wing and circuit-specific changes to meet the demands of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. In contrast, Ferrari chose not to introduce upgrades in Montreal, instead focusing on optimizing changes made in Miami. Hamilton challenged the narrative that Mercedes would dominate in Montreal during sprint qualifying, securing a fifth-place start for the sprint race but praising the work done by Ferrari engineers. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged the significance of the upgrades while remaining wary of Hamilton’s threat on track.
