Lewis Hamilton called the duel with Max Verstappen at the Canadian Grand Prix “awesome,” after he sliced past the Red Bull driver on lap 20 to finish second, his best result for Ferrari this season. Hamilton fell behind early, losing third place and then a seven‑second gap, but on medium tyres he closed to within a second with 13 laps to go.

Verstappen, who secured his first podium of 2026, praised the fight, noting the narrow energy margins at Montreal allowed brief power boosts. Both drivers managed battery strategy tightly; Hamilton explained he had to balance straight‑line power with corner speed, using the new overtake mode to stay within striking distance before the decisive pass on lap 27. That extra allowance proved decisive in the final laps.

Kimi Antonelli claimed the race win for Mercedes, while George Russell retired from the lead with a power‑unit failure, reshuffling the podium. Hamilton’s second places the team after a podium‑less debut underline Ferrari’s progress under the 2026 regulations. Ferrari hopes the momentum carries forward, though tyre wear will test the car.