Lewis Hamilton admitted he thoroughly enjoyed his latest battle with Max Verstappen after securing his best result since joining Ferrari. The seven-time world champion finished second at the Canadian Grand Prix, delivering his strongest performance since arriving at the Maranello-based team ahead of the 2025 season.
Hamilton was competitive throughout the Montreal weekend and emerged as Ferrari's leading contender against Mercedes. After benefiting from McLaren's early strategic mistakes, the British driver found himself in a direct fight with Verstappen for second place during the closing stages of the race.
Lap after lap, Hamilton steadily reduced the gap to the Red Bull Racing driver before eventually making a decisive move to secure second position behind race winner Kimi Antonelli. The result represented an important step forward for Ferrari after losing ground to Mercedes in recent rounds.
Although Hamilton and Verstappen shared one of Formula 1's fiercest title battles during the 2021 season, the Ferrari driver spoke positively about racing against the Dutchman once again. For Hamilton, returning to the front of the field and fighting directly with top rivals remains one of the most rewarding aspects of competing in Formula 1.
"Amazing, honestly. I'm so, so happy. A good day of racing and overall just a really solid weekend. I've felt on the up, and the team have done a really amazing job refining the car. To be up there battling and finally have a good fight with Max was fantastic," Hamilton told Sky Sports F1.
Ferrari's pace throughout the weekend suggested the team's recent development efforts are beginning to deliver meaningful gains. Hamilton consistently featured among the front-runners from practice through to the race, highlighting a clear improvement in the overall competitiveness of the SF-26 package.
The 41-year-old also appeared significantly more comfortable than during the early stages of his Ferrari career. Since the beginning of the season, Hamilton has repeatedly insisted that adapting to a new team requires time and has pushed back against suggestions that his best years are behind him.
According to Hamilton, a key factor behind his improved performances has been the growing understanding between himself and Ferrari's engineering group. Better setup choices and a stronger connection with the car have allowed him to regain confidence behind the wheel.
"There are so many elements that need to come together to get the car in the right place. I finally feel like I have that with the engineers and the setup direction we've found. I really hope I can continue performing like this because I'm much happier and much more comfortable in the car. It feels much more like it used to," Hamilton explained.
With Ferrari showing renewed competitiveness and Hamilton rediscovering confidence, the Canadian Grand Prix could prove to be a significant turning point for both driver and team. If the current trajectory continues, Ferrari may once again emerge as a genuine challenger to Mercedes for victories during the remainder of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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