Hamilton hails his “Happiest Day” at Ferrari after brilliant P2 in Canada

Lewis Hamilton delivered his strongest performance yet as a Ferrari driver at the Canadian Grand Prix, securing second place after a fierce and emotionally charged race.

The seven‑time world champion combined a sharp start, relentless racecraft, and growing confidence in his engineering team to claim his second podium for the Scuderia — and his first P2 in a main race with Ferrari.

Hamilton made an excellent getaway, immediately overtaking Oscar Piastri and placing himself in third position. For several laps he kept both Mercedes drivers behind him, showing calm control as he managed the early phase of the race.

Eventually Max Verstappen closed in and made his way past, but Hamilton refused to let the position slip away. He fought back with determination and executed a bold move around the outside of Turn 1, reclaiming the place and securing his best result of the season.

Charles Leclerc endured a more difficult afternoon. The Monegasque struggled with tyre performance throughout the weekend, but he still produced an entertaining battle with Isack Hadjar, eventually overtaking the Red Bull driver to finish fourth.

After the race, Hamilton reflected on what he described as one of his most satisfying weekends since joining Ferrari. He said, “It’s been a really positive weekend on my side.

"I felt at one with the car from the first laps in practice, and while qualifying didn’t quite go our way, the pace was there. Today is a testament to the work that’s been put in, both here at the track and back at the factory, so a huge ‘Grazie’ to everyone involved.”

He emphasised how much the team’s support has meant to him, adding, “I’m really grateful for the way the team has supported me and welcomed me from day one. It means a lot. To come away with a strong points finish is important, and there are plenty of positives to take forward.”

Hamilton also spoke about the intensity of his battle with Max Verstappen, saying, “The fight with Max was intense and enjoyable, that’s why we race and it shows the progress we’re making. The upgrades we brought in Miami worked well and we’ll keep building on this momentum and stay focused on the journey ahead.”

Hamilton’s joy was unmistakable as he described the emotional significance of the result. “Oh man, it’s the happiest day of my days at Ferrari so far,” he said with a smile.

“It feels great to be able to put the Ferrari on the podium, and to get my first second place with the team as well in the main race, and this is my second podium as well.”

He praised the team’s hard work and the progress made over the winter, explaining, “I’m just elated and so proud of the team for working so hard. I finally have the engineering team that I’ve been working towards. I think our car is great, the guys did a fantastic job over the winter to get the car where it is, and I think I understand it a lot better and much more comfortable with it.”

Hamilton also highlighted Ferrari’s reliability and the importance of capitalising on opportunities, saying, “Whilst we’re not exactly where we want to be, to get a result like this capitalises… we’ve got great reliability. This is awesome, and a big thanks to the team.”

When asked how personally satisfying the result was, Hamilton responded with characteristic honesty. “Honestly it’s the best feeling. I feel very light right now.” He added that he felt physically and mentally strong throughout the weekend: