Lewis Hamilton left the Canadian Grand Prix with renewed confidence after producing his strongest performance yet as a Ferrari driver, securing a sensational second-place finish and winning a thrilling late-race battle against Max Verstappen in Montreal.
The seven-time Formula 1 world champion delivered a composed and aggressive drive at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, underlining the growing progress being made by Ferrari during the 2026 Formula 1 season. After months of adaptation, technical adjustments and intense scrutiny following his blockbuster move from Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton finally looked completely at ease behind the wheel of the SF-26.
Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc also acknowledged the exceptional level shown by Lewis Hamilton throughout the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, with the British driver comfortably leading Ferrari’s charge while extracting maximum performance from the car in both qualifying and race trim.
Starting from fifth on the grid, Lewis Hamilton capitalised on changing race circumstances, McLaren’s strategy errors and George Russell’s retirement before engaging in one of the standout battles of the race against Max Verstappen. The Ferrari driver eventually completed a decisive overtake on the Red Bull star in the closing laps to secure second place — Ferrari’s best Grand Prix finish of the season so far.
Lewis Hamilton finally feels fully connected with Ferrari
Following the race, Lewis Hamilton appeared more relaxed and satisfied than at any previous point since joining Ferrari. The British driver made it clear that the Canadian Grand Prix represented far more than just another podium finish.
Lewis Hamilton explained that Ferrari had made major progress in refining the car setup and improving communication between himself and the engineering team. According to the Ferrari driver, several key elements had finally aligned over the Montreal weekend, allowing him to drive with a level of confidence that had previously been missing.
The seven-time world champion suggested that he now feels significantly more comfortable with the SF-26 and that the car is beginning to respond in a way that better suits his natural driving style. Lewis Hamilton also indicated that the atmosphere inside Ferrari has become increasingly positive as the team continues to understand how to maximise his strengths.
After the race, Lewis Hamilton described the weekend as one of the most satisfying experiences of his Ferrari career so far. He highlighted the strong teamwork inside the Scuderia garage and praised the effort made by Ferrari engineers to continuously improve the car’s balance and drivability.
The Ferrari driver also admitted that battling Max Verstappen wheel-to-wheel again at the front of the field brought additional satisfaction, especially considering the intense history shared between the two drivers during the controversial 2021 Formula 1 title fight.
Lewis Hamilton shuts down retirement speculation with Ferrari resurgence
Throughout the opening phase of the 2026 Formula 1 season, Lewis Hamilton has repeatedly dismissed speculation surrounding a possible retirement from Formula 1. The Canadian Grand Prix only strengthened his position.
Over recent months, critics had continued to question whether Lewis Hamilton could rediscover the consistency and aggression that defined his championship-winning years at Mercedes. However, Ferrari’s recent upward trajectory and Lewis Hamilton’s improving comfort level now appear to be changing the narrative completely.
The British driver suggested that the current version of himself feels much closer to the peak form he enjoyed during his dominant Formula 1 seasons. Lewis Hamilton explained that once the car setup, engineering collaboration and overall balance finally came together, his confidence immediately returned.
That renewed confidence was visible throughout the Canadian Grand Prix weekend. From practice sessions to qualifying and race pace, Lewis Hamilton consistently looked sharper, calmer and more aggressive than at any other point since arriving in Maranello.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc endured a far more complicated weekend on the opposite side of the Ferrari garage. The Monegasque struggled with tyre preparation, braking confidence and balance issues throughout the event, making Lewis Hamilton’s performance stand out even more prominently within Ferrari.
Ferrari momentum growing ahead of Monaco Grand Prix
Ferrari now head toward Monaco with genuine optimism after their encouraging pace in Canada. While Mercedes still maintain a clear advantage in outright race performance under the current regulations, Ferrari’s chassis efficiency and cornering performance are becoming increasingly competitive.
Lewis Hamilton’s strong result in Montreal has also reinforced the belief that Ferrari may soon become genuine contenders for race victories, especially on circuits where mechanical grip and low-speed performance play a larger role.
With Charles Leclerc traditionally extremely strong around the streets of Monaco and Lewis Hamilton rapidly building confidence with the SF-26, Ferrari could head into the next race weekend with their strongest opportunity yet to challenge Mercedes at the front.
For Lewis Hamilton personally, the Canadian Grand Prix felt like a turning point. The podium result, the victory over Max Verstappen in direct combat and the growing harmony with Ferrari all combined to create the clearest signal yet that the partnership between the sport’s most successful driver and Formula 1’s most iconic team is finally beginning to click.
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