Hamilton wins Barcelona GP for first Ferrari victory

Lewis Hamilton defied his critics by claiming his maiden victory for Ferrari at the thrilling Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, crossing the finish line ahead of teammate George Russell and Lando Norris. This win marks Hamilton's first with the iconic red livery and ends Mercedes' dominant streak in 2026. It also represents his 106th career win and his seventh at this particular circuit.

Ferrari's initial choice to start Hamilton on soft tires did not grant him the lead on the opening lap. However, the Italian team gambled on an effective three-stop strategy, which proved to be the ideal approach. Hamilton gained crucial time by making his third pit stop under a Virtual Safety Car. Prior to that, he had executed a series of exceptionally fast laps on medium tires, significantly closing the gap to the leading cars and setting the stage for his first win in nearly two years. His previous victory was in Belgium in 2024.

With this result, the Ferrari driver reduced the points deficit to championship leader Kimi Antonelli to 41 points. Post-race, a jubilant Hamilton expressed his elation: "It's an absolutely incredible feeling. Achieving my first win with the reds, here in Barcelona, is something I will never forget. I want to say a huge thank you to the entire team, both here at the track and back at the factory. We gambled on the three-stop strategy and the soft tires at the start, but the decisions from the pit wall were perfect, and the car felt amazing when I needed to push. I feel sorry for Kimi Antonelli; it's never pleasant to retire like that. For us, though, this result closes the gap in the championship and gives us a huge boost for the rest of the season."

It was not an easy day for Russell, who started from pole position. He was overtaken by Antonelli before the young Italian's unfortunate retirement on lap 62 of 66 due to an electrical problem. Almost simultaneously, Charles Leclerc also retired from the race with a hydraulic issue affecting his Ferrari. Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Jizac Hazar finished in 4th and 6th positions, respectively, with Piastri securing 5th for McLaren, adding ten points to their constructors' championship tally. This was a positive day for the British team, accumulating 25 points after three retirements in the previous two races. The Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto finished 7th and 8th, though Colapinto was penalized for a yellow flag infringement, dropping him to 10th.

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It's an absolutely incredible feeling. Achieving my first win with the reds, here in Barcelona, is something I will never forget. I want to say a huge thank you to the entire team, both here at the track and back at the factory. We gambled on the three-stop strategy and the soft tires at the start, but the decisions from the pit wall were perfect, and the car felt amazing when I needed to push. I feel sorry for Kimi Antonelli; it's never pleasant to retire like that. For us, though, this result closes the gap in the championship and gives us a huge boost for the rest of the season.