Hamilton Thrills in Epic Duel with Verstappen for Second at Canadian GP
Lewis Hamilton expressed his excitement after battling Max Verstappen at the Canadian Grand Prix, ultimately finishing second and marking his best result with Ferrari this season. Hamilton initially fell behind Verstappen, who passed him for third during the opening laps. However, he showcased impressive pace on medium tires, closing the gap significantly as the race progressed. With just 13 laps remaining, Hamilton got within a second of Verstappen, who is renowned for his defensive skills. After a fierce contest, Hamilton made the decisive pass seven laps later and successfully defended his position to the finish. Hamilton remarked, "It was awesome, absolutely awesome to fight with one of the greats." He highlighted the challenges posed by the different car dynamics, noting that while Ferrari was slightly quicker in corners, Red Bull capitalized on straight-line speed. Key points from Hamilton's performance: After a disappointing debut season with Ferrari, Hamilton has improved, finishing third in China and now second in Montreal. The 2026 cars feature new overtaking aids, which he navigated strategically. Hamilton embraced the thrill of the chase, saying, "I love that hunt. That's my whole life... hunting down a champion." On the other hand, Verstappen, despite finishing third, enjoyed the battle with Hamilton, stating, "It was very good. I enjoyed it a lot." He noted that being within a second allowed him to utilize energy more effectively, enhancing performance on the straights. Verstappen, who has faced challenges with the new regulations this season, was pleased with a relatively uneventful race, saying, "It's my first race where I basically had a normal race, nothing crazy happened, so that's also nice." Overall, the race showcased intense competition, with both drivers demonstrating their elite skills on the track.
Source: Sky Sports - 2026-05-25