Lewis Hamilton’s second-place finish at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada, where the seventh round of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship took place last Sunday, means far more than just another podium result. It came on a track that, on paper, was not expected to suit Ferrari’s technical characteristics, particularly given the power unit disadvantage many anticipated the Scuderia would face against its main rivals.
For the seven-time world champion, the result represents confirmation of his steady progress within Ferrari and the clearest indication yet of a relationship that has become increasingly strong with the Maranello-based team. After the difficulties he experienced during his debut season in red, which ended with only the Sprint Race victory in Shanghai as a major highlight and no Grand Prix podium finishes, while also finishing 86 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc, the British driver now appears transformed. He looks more involved, more relaxed, and above all fully integrated into the team’s working environment.
The Canadian podium was Hamilton’s second with Ferrari after the one he secured in China last March. It was the result of an almost flawless weekend in which the British driver demonstrated pace, consistency, and renewed confidence in the car. He ultimately defeated Max Verstappen’s Red Bull in the battle for second place, finishing behind race winner and championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the Mercedes.
Speaking to the media in Montreal on Sunday, Lewis Hamilton did not hide his satisfaction.
“Yes, I really enjoyed myself on track throughout the entire weekend,” Lewis Hamilton said. “Every single lap, I felt like we had started in the right way, with the right mindset, and overall the car performed really well. Coming here to Montreal, a circuit that I love, and experiencing a Sprint weekend here, the first one we’ve had at this track, was fantastic.”
The British driver continued: “This is also my first second-place finish with the team. It’s something I’ve worked very hard for. I can’t even explain how deeply I’ve had to dig within myself to get to this point, nor all the work and huge efforts that have gone on behind the scenes to make a performance like this possible. I’m incredibly grateful to the team for continuing to support me and believe in me, weekend after weekend. And it’s a wonderful feeling to see them so happy because they truly deserve it for all the hard work they do.”
Those words perfectly capture the moment Lewis Hamilton is experiencing. Last year, he committed to the Ferrari project after a long and highly successful period at Mercedes, where he broke countless records. While the first months of his Ferrari journey were marked by adaptation issues and technical misunderstandings, the Briton now appears fully invested in the project. His language is that of a leader who feels like an integral part of the team and who openly recognizes the efforts of the men and women working in Maranello.
Not surprisingly, the British champion also highlighted the importance of the work carried out behind the scenes alongside Ferrari’s engineers and management.
“The preparation before the weekend was fundamental,” Hamilton explained. “I chose a different setup this weekend after carefully analyzing the data and working extremely well with my engineer. He’s absolutely fantastic, and I’m really enjoying working with him. My second engineer also did an exceptional job this weekend and helped me extract even more performance from the car, putting it into a much more effective operating window. For the first time, I was able to attack every corner.”
Continuing his analysis, the seven-time F1 world champion added: “As I’ve said, there have been many changes that I requested, and Fred has been incredibly open and supportive. He has also made huge efforts to help put me in a position where I feel comfortable. And finally, all of that is starting to show in my performances. So, thank you to the whole team.”
The feeling within the paddock is that Canada marked an important turning point in Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari journey. Not only because of the final result, but because of the way it was achieved. Lewis Hamilton displayed confidence, competitiveness, and a level of harmony with Ferrari that only a few months ago still seemed to be a work in progress.
His second podium of the season therefore represents much more than a statistic. It is proof that the work carried out over recent months is beginning to pay off and that the Hamilton-Ferrari partnership can look ahead with renewed confidence and increasingly realistic ambitions. The competition remains fierce, particularly from Mercedes, which has dominated much of the season so far, as demonstrated by Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s position at the top of the championship standings. At the same time, it is worth remembering that George Russell was forced to retire in Canada due to technical problems, underlining just how strong the Silver Arrows continue to be.
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