formula1.com Hamilton claims stellar maiden Ferrari victory in Barcelona as Antonelli suffers shock late retirement
Hamilton celebrates after crossing the line at Barcelona-CatalunyaLewis Hamilton delivered a masterclass drive at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, finally securing his long-awaited first victory for Ferrari in a thrilling Spanish Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion’s triumph was compounded by a dramatic late retirement for championship leader Kimi Antonelli, dramatically shaking up the 2026 F1 title fight.
In a race that will be remembered as a seismic turning point, the 41-year-old British icon silenced his doubters by executing a flawless three-stop strategy, taking the chequered flag nearly 20 seconds clear of Mercedes’ George Russell. The result marks Hamilton’s first victory since the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and ends a 686‑day drought, while also handing Ferrari their maiden win of the season in stunning fashion.
How Hamilton’s Ferrari fairytale came true
Starting from the front row alongside polesitter George Russell, Hamilton’s early pace was patient but menacing. Ferrari took a calculated risk by fitting soft tyres for the opening stint, and although the Briton couldn’t immediately overtake, he kept the pressure on. The crucial moment arrived on Lap 27 when Fernando Alonso’s spin triggered a Virtual Safety Car. Ferrari pounced instantly, calling Hamilton into the pits for a “free” tyre change that gained him track position over Russell.
From there, the 105-time race winner produced a sequence of purple sector times, pulling away at a rate of nearly half a second per lap. A bold move around the outside of Turn 1 after the restart cemented his lead, and Hamilton never looked back. The car was incredible today — the Scuderia gave me a rocket ship Hamilton beamed over team radio. "This is what I came to Ferrari for. Grazie ragazzi
Race results – 2026 Spanish Grand Prix
| Pos | Driver | Team | Gap | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:32:28.105 | 25 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | +19.561s | 18 |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +23.719s | 15 |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +40.497s | 12 |
| 5 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +58.661s | 10 |
| 6 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +1 lap | 8 |
| 7 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | +1 lap | 6 |
| 8 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | +1 lap | 4 |
| 9 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | +1 lap | 2 |
| 10 | Nico Hülkenberg | Sauber | +1 lap | 1 |
