Canadian GP: Lewis Hamilton goes off while pushing to catch Max Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton lost valuable time in the Canadian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari charge hits setback after chicane mistake while chasing Max Verstappen in Canada

Lewis Hamilton’s aggressive pursuit of a podium finish at the Canadian Grand Prix suffered a costly interruption after the Ferrari driver ran straight through the chicane and onto the grass while trying to pressure Max Verstappen.

The seven-time world champion had been pushing hard in an effort to reduce the gap to the Red Bull driver in the fight for third place, but the incident on lap 22 handed Max Verstappen some breathing room at a critical stage of the race.

As Lewis Hamilton attempted to stay within striking distance, the Ferrari driver missed the chicane, cutting across the runoff and briefly touching the grass before rejoining the circuit. While the moment did not result in contact or immediate damage, it proved expensive in terms of lap time and momentum.

By the time the situation stabilised, Lewis Hamilton had dropped to just over five seconds behind Max Verstappen, making the podium challenge significantly more difficult.

The intensity of the chase was also reflected in Ferrari team radio communications. Frustrated in the heat of battle, Lewis Hamilton told his race engineer:

“Don’t talk in the braking zone, mate.”

The exchange offered a glimpse into just how finely balanced the fight had become. At a demanding circuit like Montreal, where precision under braking is essential and overtaking opportunities are built around late braking zones, even a brief distraction can carry consequences.

For Ferrari, the incident underlined both the opportunity and the challenge of the afternoon. Lewis Hamilton clearly had enough pace to keep Max Verstappen under pressure, suggesting the Ferrari SF-26 was competitive in race trim despite earlier concerns over power delivery.

However, chasing a driver of Max Verstappen’s calibre in dirty air around Circuit Gilles Villeneuve leaves almost no room for error. The narrow margins, aggressive kerbs and repeated heavy braking zones punish even the smallest misjudgment.

With strategy, tyre management and possible late-race variables still in play, Lewis Hamilton’s podium hopes were not over — but the path had just become far more complicated.