Lewis Hamilton has claimed "there's a lot of people that are trying to retire" him from Formula One, as the Ferrari driver prepares for the Canadian Grand Prix.

The seven-time world champion's move to Ferrari from Mercedes has not gone to plan, as he still awaits his first Grand Prix victory with the Italian team.

Hamilton has not won a race since the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix, but he did claim his first Ferrari podium in China earlier this year.

In 2026, the British driver came fourth in Australia and third in China, before sixth-place finishes in Japan and Miami, leaving him fifth in the Drivers' Championship.

If history is anything to go by, Canada could well be the place for Hamilton to win his first Grand Prix with Ferrari.

No driver has more wins at the Canadian Grand Prix than Hamilton and Michael Schumacher (seven each), with the Briton potentially equalling his second-best tally of wins at a single Grand Prix, having claimed eight victories in Hungary.

The 41-year-old's first-ever F1 win came in Canada in 2007, in what was just his sixth race in his debut season.

"Jeez, it was only my sixth race in Formula 1," said Hamilton when reflecting on the moment.

"First time coming to Montreal, being a rookie to a world champion was tough – Fernando [Alonso] was so fast. But I was so competitive, I couldn't accept being second; I wanted to win.

"The first five races, in the fuel error, they would always give Fernando the lowest fuel, so it felt like I had to work twice as hard to be ahead of him. And I pushed so hard to get equal fuel, like give me a chance, and I'll show you what I can do.

"So they gave us equal fuel, and I took pole and won. I fought for what I believed in, and the rest was history.

"There's a lot of people that are trying to retire me, and that's not even all my thoughts.

"I'm already thinking of what will be next, and planning for, like, the next five years. But I still plan to be here for some time."

DRIVERS TO WATCH

Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes

Nineteen-year-old Kimi Antonelli currently leads the Drivers' Championship and is looking to make some more history in Canada.

Antonelli has claimed pole position in each of the last three F1 races. Among Italian drivers in F1, only Alberto Ascari has achieved four consecutive poles, between the 1952 German Grand Prix and the 1953 Argentine Grand Prix.

Antonelli could also become only the second Italian driver to record four consecutive F1 victories, after Ascari, who achieved seven in a row between the 1952 Belgian Grand Prix and the 1953 Argentine Grand Prix.

It’s good to be back  pic.twitter.com/B3mKjLIA8x

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) May 21, 2026

George Russell – Mercedes

Russell has secured pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix in each of the last two editions and could become only the fourth driver to take three consecutive poles at this event, after Schumacher (1999, 2000 and 2001), Hamilton (2007, 2008 and 2010) and Sebastian Vettel (2011, 2012 and 2013).

Russell has also scored points in each of the last 20 F1 races. It is both his best personal streak and the longest active run on the current grid.

Three of the last four editions of the Canadian Grand Prix have been won by Max Verstappen, although it was Russell who claimed victory in the most recent edition in 2025. The Briton has never won the same Grand Prix twice.

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Drivers'

1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 100

2. George Russell (Mercedes) – 80

3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 59

4. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 51

5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 51

Constructors'

1. Mercedes – 180

2. Ferrari – 110

3. McLaren – 94

4. Red Bull – 30

5. Alpine – 23