Four-time world champion Max Verstappen admitted that Red Bull did not have the pace to challenge Lewis Hamilton after the Ferrari star claimed second place at an action-packed Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.
Fans were treated to a thrilling late-race battle between two of Formula 1’s biggest names as Hamilton and Verstappen fought intensely for a podium finish. While recent seasons have rarely seen the pair go wheel-to-wheel due to differing car performance, Sunday’s race brought back memories of their famous championship fights from previous years.
The changing weather conditions and tyre strategies played a major role in shaping the outcome of the race. Both McLaren drivers began the Grand Prix on intermediate tyres, expecting further rain around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. However, as the track steadily dried and no additional rain arrived, McLaren were forced into early pit stops to switch tyres, dropping them out of podium contention.
The race then shifted dramatically when Mercedes driver George Russell retired because of a battery issue. His retirement elevated Verstappen into second place and Hamilton into third, setting up a tense battle between the two champions during the closing stages.
Hamilton looked increasingly competitive after switching to medium tyres, with the Ferrari driver showing superior pace during the final stint. The decisive moment came on lap 62 when Hamilton launched a brilliant move around the outside of Verstappen into Turn 1. The seven-time world champion executed the overtake perfectly and quickly pulled clear, eventually securing second place behind race winner Kimi Antonelli.
The result marked Hamilton’s strongest performance since joining Ferrari and sparked emotional celebrations after the race. The British driver appeared delighted in parc ferme, even lifting race winner Antonelli in celebration following the young Italian’s impressive victory.
Despite managing to secure a podium finish himself, Verstappen appeared less satisfied with Red Bull’s overall performance. Speaking after the race, the Dutchman openly admitted his team lacked the speed needed to properly compete with Hamilton during the final stages.
Verstappen explained that Russell’s retirement ultimately helped Red Bull achieve a better result than they expected. He suggested that both Mercedes cars would likely have finished ahead had Russell remained in the race, making third place a positive outcome under difficult circumstances.
The reigning champion also highlighted tyre struggles as a major issue throughout the race. According to Verstappen, Red Bull failed to generate enough temperature in the tyres, particularly during the medium-tyre stint, which prevented the car from finding consistent grip around the Montreal circuit.
He noted that the tyres never fully entered their ideal operating window, leaving him unable to match Hamilton’s pace once the Ferrari driver began pushing harder in the closing laps. Although disappointed with the lack of outright speed, Verstappen still viewed the podium finish as an encouraging result for Red Bull considering the challenges they faced throughout the weekend.
Hamilton’s impressive drive, meanwhile, provided another major boost for Ferrari and reinforced hopes that the team may finally be building momentum in the 2026 Formula 1 season.
