Outside Line: Is Lewis Hamilton really back or was Canada another false dawn?

As any long-time Hamilton fan knows, you always want him to do well. You always want him to be featuring at the front and fighting for victories.

To be honest it's a welcome respite, as over the past year, through a combination of his own struggles and circumstances, he went through a rough patch where very little seemed to go right. He was his own worst critic and remained so for much of last season as he struggled to get a handle on his teammate Charles Leclerc.

This year, with new cars and a fresh start, it was expected that his second season at Ferrari would be much better, but it was a somewhat wayward beginning. Which the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion 'solved' ahead of Montreal by ditching simulator work back at Maranello.

Indeed, it seemed to work; in Canada, we finally saw a fired-up Hamilton driving in the manner we love him for, something we had not seen for a while. Let's be honest, it was extremely refreshing, and we all live in hope that this is the turnaround, a much-needed one too, for Sir Lewis.

But I'm going to have to temper the expectations that mushroomed after Hamilton's exploits in Montreal. Some sectors of the media, forums and commentators (British mainly) were ecstatic. As if it were the second coming of the Messiah. But one race does not make a season, folks.

In today's era of Kimi Antonelli, Max Verstappen and the rest of the new generation, you have to bring your A-game every single session, every single race. There is no relenting. There is no coming off the pedal – full gas all the time. The guys at the top are constantly good, relentlessly so. That is what defines the good from the great. Lewis knows all too well.

An occasional strong result is hardly cause for celebration. It is impressive and long overdue, but if it happens again in Monaco, then I'll consider believing. If it happens for the next two or three races thereafter, then maybe I'll say, 'Yes, Lewis is back.'

Until then, I'm going to treat Canada as a one-off. Lessons learned last year, during an early false dawn.

I genuinely believed that after Hamilton's sprint race victory in China, very early in his Ferrari tenure, things would be okay in red. We saw him at his best that day in what was a dominant win. Much more I expected. But it has been a long, troubling time since that day in Shanghai. A false dawn.

So perhaps Canada is the renaissance, but maybe not. I certainly hope so. But at the same time, as a lifelong Hamilton fanboy, I'm not going into this Monaco weekend thinking Lewis is suddenly going to own Charles on the Monegsque's school route. 

In fact, I predict hometown hero Leclerc is going to be seething after what was probably one of his worst Grand Prix weekends, last time out in Canada. Let's be honest. He will be back with a bang and highly motivated to deliver on home soil.

I think this weekend will go one of two ways. Either Hamilton really is back and edges Leclerc, or Leclerc responds the way elite racing drivers are wired to respond.

If I were Charles, I'd be saying, "Okay, Lewis, you enjoyed your time in the Canadian sun." Welcome to the Côte d'Azur." Then I'd be trying to destroy him, with a cute smile on my face. That's how racing drivers I know think. That's why it will be fascinating to watch.

There is nobody who would like to see Hamilton claim that elusive eighth Formula 1 title more than me. It would be one of the greatest stories of my lifetime as a follower of this sport. At the same time, I have to be realistic to manage my potential disappointment.

If McLaren get their act together and Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris inject themselves into the title battle, and if George Russell responds as he must to his teammate Kimi Antonelli, who is running away with this title race, would it not be incredible to have Hamilton in that mix as well?

Not just for Hamilton fans, but for Formula 1 as a whole. To see Lewis win races again, put himself into genuine title contention and chase that eighth crown would be epic.

The reality, however, is that while he comprehensively beat his teammate in Montreal, the overall scoreline still makes uncomfortable reading from Hamilton's side of the garage. StatsF1 shows that Leclerc has beaten his teammate 22 times out of 29 in qualifying and 20 times out of 26 in GPs since they were coupled in the same garage.

Hamilton now needs to deliver at a Canadian Grand Prix level week after week, race after race. And that is one of the most intriguing storylines in Formula 1 right now.

Is Hamilton really back? And can he genuinely mount a challenge for that elusive eighth title? As much as I hope Canada was the breakthrough, a watershed moment for Hamilton and Ferrari, I also hope it was not another false dawn. Only time will tell. Watch this space!