Hamilton claims maiden Ferrari win 'couldn't be closer' after Monaco podium

After closing in on his teammate with a second-place finish in Montreal, another runner-up result in Monaco allowed the seven-time world champion not only to move ahead of him, but also leapfrog fellow Briton Russell. With both Leclerc and Russell enduring nightmare races, Hamilton now sits as the closest challenger in the championship to an increasingly unstoppable Kimi Antonelli.

Asked after the race when his long-awaited first Ferrari victory might arrive, Hamilton said the target now feels closer than ever. Having climbed to second in the championship standings, the seven-time world champion admitted he is grateful for the position he finds himself in and credited both Ferrari's reliability and the backing he has received from Vasseur.

Hamilton explained that the pair went through a challenging period last season, but revealed that several changes he had been calling for were eventually implemented. According to the Briton, those decisions are now beginning to pay off, allowing him to extract more performance and deliver stronger results for the team.

Looking ahead, Hamilton insisted there is still a long way to go in the title fight and stressed that Ferrari's focus must remain on hunting down the teams ahead. While recognising the strength of the competition, he remains convinced that if Ferrari continues on its current trajectory, the breakthrough result he is chasing will eventually arrive.

Hamilton said he was delighted to secure another podium and joked that, at 41 years old, he is older than the combined ages of the two drivers alongside him on the podium. The Ferrari driver explained that he still feels incredibly fortunate to be competing at the highest level of motorsport, describing it as a privilege to race for Ferrari and remain one of the 22 drivers on the Formula 1 grid. He added that he continues to enjoy every aspect of racing and remains grateful for the opportunity.

Reflecting on the race, Hamilton was pleased to have converted third place on the grid into a runner-up finish, marking his second consecutive second-place result after Montreal. He acknowledged that some had previously attributed his strong performances to circuits that naturally suited him, but believes his recent form demonstrates a broader trend.

Hamilton also admitted he feels he is currently in a phase where he has to remind people of his capabilities, noting that many supporters had urged him to do exactly that over the past year. He said he is determined to continue proving himself every weekend and highlighted the renewed sense of belief within Ferrari, adding that he is encouraged by the confidence the team has shown in him since bringing him to Maranello.