Lewis Hamilton turned the Canadian GP into his strongest showing for Ferrari, finishing second after starting fifth. He overtook McLaren’s Oscar Piastri on lap one and later passed Max Verstappen’s Red Bull to claim P2, his best result since a sprint win in China. The Montreal circuit, where he won his maiden F1 race, seemed to suit his revived pace and his confidence grew throughout.

Before the weekend Hamilton admitted he skipped the Ferrari simulator in Maranello, arguing it failed to mirror real‑track conditions. He used the same data‑driven approach that delivered his Chinese podium, saying the tool “is powerful but I’m old school, probably better without it.” The gamble paid off, reinforcing his belief that on‑track feel trumps virtual laps and validate his instincts today.

The result narrows the gap to Red Bull, with Hamilton now only a handful of points behind Verstappen in the Drivers’ standings. Ferrari gains valuable morale boost after a turbulent 17‑month spell for the seven‑time champion. As Hamilton continues to eschew virtual training, his on‑track performance will likely dictate the team’s development direction for the remainder of the season.