Lewis Hamilton finishes second at the Canadian Grand Prix after a bold Turn 1 overtake on Max Verstappen late. It is his strongest result since moving to Ferrari in 2025.

Hamilton shadows Verstappen for much of the race, then unlocks better pace in the closing phase. The late-lap exchange mirrors their familiar rivalry and closing-lap battle narrative from previous duels.

Ferrari’s package shows corner-phase strength, while Red Bull retains superior straight-line efficiency. That split forces Hamilton to rely on clean exits and disciplined energy deployment, rather than raw top-speed.

He repeatedly manages battery usage to defend once ahead, balancing deployment with recovery to avoid late vulnerability. The deficit on the straights makes each push costly across subsequent laps.

The race tilts toward Hamilton when Verstappen switches to mediums. That change brings the leaders into a performance window, allowing Hamilton to close and commit to the Turn 1 move.

Even after the pass, Verstappen maintains pressure to the flag. Hamilton holds position through measured pace targets and careful energy timing, rather than aggressive bursts that risked counterattacks.

The result caps a productive weekend for Hamilton in Montreal, building on momentum from Hamilton’s Canadian weekend and reinforcing Ferrari’s ability to contest for high-value points.

Competitive patterns persist: Red Bull carries power and efficiency; Ferrari counters with rotation and traction. Verstappen’s evolving form, including Verstappen’s weakness in F1, shapes how margins play out this season.

Hamilton’s experience and racecraft remain central to Ferrari’s trajectory. His reflections, captured in a recent tribute to Lewis Hamilton, underline a driver thriving on the chase.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.