Sebastian Vettel described Friday practice for the Canadian Grand Prix as "a disaster". The balance of the Ferrari wasn't right, Max Verstappen set the pace for Red Bull and Vettel brushed the wall at the end of practice one then sat out the first 34 minutes of the second session while waiting for the car to be repaired.
What's more, Montreal specialist Lewis Hamilton looked strong. Though he was down in fourth place, Hamilton had set his fastest time on the slowest, supersoft, tyre compound and he looked very quick on the long runs.
Cue some serious work overnight, both in Montreal and at Ferrari's Maranello base with reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi putting in the miles in the simulator. The result was a car good enough to take pole position from Valtteri Bottas by 0.093 seconds, win comfortably and give Vettel the lead of the world championship.