Charles Leclerc got out of his Ferrari visibly fuming and his helmet still on his head, his posture tense, the image of the driver who just understood what he had lost. Leclerc was a frustrated eighth-placed qualifier at the Canadian Grand Prix, and he had no qualms: this car, he said, could have comfortably secured pole, but his attempt to stick the middle sector and therefore the crucial second sector did not leave him much up the grid. This one stung because it has been the place where this driver has been making his reputation as one of the best over one lap.

There we were going at our pace. I believe it was decent enough to go to pole but I made a complete mess and I am very frustrated, Leclerc explained a few seconds after getting out of the SF-25. I have just come out of the car and so clearly emotions are high. I am really frustration.

It was not only that he felt frustrated about the error but what could have been. Ferrari, which stepped up on pace and appeared to be competitive all weekend, appeared to have the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve nailed to the tune of a one-two on the grid. In final practice, Leclerc was the second fastest although he had missed much track time on Friday because of the accident during FP1, which had also left him with a missed practice in FP2. The turnaround in reality occurred, but floundered when it counted the most.

Later in the closing phases of Q3, Leclerc went hard. His first sector of the last-but-one lap was extremely fast- possibly the fastest of the session- but a foolish mistake which cost him time in Sector 2 caused him to ruin the lap. He got a second opportunity, but even on a clean run did not manage to make it in the top five. A traffic moment, when Racing Bulls Isack Hadjar was out of sight 100 meters before Turn 6/7, did not help. Leclerc was frustrated with the impact of swirly air in that area, even with the apparent space, saying he lost his grip and that damaged his confidence and rhythm.

I am not sure whether it was a correct decision or not to go out so early, Leclerc answered, discussing his final lapping. I am sorry, but up to that time I believe I thought it _was… I mean, we just had done seven corners but I think it was good enough to be pole, so I am very frustrated. I believe that the car was excellent today and we have not optimised anything.

Inquired about the speeding which he had displayed the previous day in the weekend, Leclerc characterized his answer crudely. No, it does not matter. And when you do that in Qualifying then there is nothing that I am satisfied with. It came in quite a lamenting style on the part of the Monegasque, who should instead rally and fight back in the face of disappointment. But that one had the personal touch to it, as though something that could have been a genuine chance had been missed.

On the other side, in the other red car, Lewis Hamilton is into his own maze of emotions and technologies. The seven-time world champion, now on Ferrari (his new team in 2025), sounded more levelheaded, although not all that confident. Hamilton has come out clean and said that he has problems getting used to the feel of the SF-25 this season and Montreal is not any different.

I do not feel in synch with the car. I haven not had it all year, Hamilton answered, candidly, a manoeuvre which has characterized so much of his late-learned frankness. When asked in response to whether that connection could materialize in the future he dismissed the importance of a time-line: I do not know whether I will this year.

Nevertheless, the Briton could have caught some hopes. Even though Ferrari has been in trouble, the 2026 prospect looked a step forward in Montreal and he thinks there is a way to compete for silverware on Sunday. Hamilton said that Mercedes brought an upgrade I heard (I think), and good luck to them. Their car has always fitted this track and I am glad for them.

On our side it has been very, very, very tricky he said, but I think a better performance than Ferrari last year which is good, and I am still going to be trying my best to see if we can get a podium at least once, that is the goal tomorrow.

His self belief was not in vain. There were some flaws in Hamilton session but there was a pace in it. And now that his old teammate George Russell has stolen pole, the British driver understands very well what mark he needs to match.

In Montreal, that dichotomy is as clear as ever The bruised but fast Leclerc and that more composed and tactical Hamilton, who might be slower in one lap but is never not ready to think about the race.

Sunday is going to be exciting in different fronts. Leclerc in the clean air with frustration to vent, will want to unleash his frustrations by cutting through the field and recompense what he views as a squandered pole. Hamilton, on the other hand, will be on the prowl of a podium finish- something that has not been observed more times than not since he joined Ferrari. So long as he gets that start and controls those tires, there is a good chance he can contend in the top three.

However, as qualifying has remounded us, talent and accuracy need to match in Formula 1. And then on Saturday in Montreal Ferrari had one and then the other.

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