Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has clinched his first victory in the iconic Ferrari colors, finishing first at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in Spain on Sunday. The 41-year-old driver's last win came in July 2024 while driving for Mercedes.
The victory came in Hamilton's 31st race with Ferrari, marking a resurgence in his season. He now sits second in the driver standings, trailing only Mercedes prodigy Kimi Antonelli, who was seeking a sixth consecutive win.
Hamilton executed the team's plan flawlessly at Barcelona. Ferrari adopted a three-stop strategy, selecting the most effective tire compounds in scorching heat, and benefited from a free pit stop under the Virtual Safety Car. Track temperatures at the start topped 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), according to F1.
George Russell led early, while Hamilton, Antonelli, Lando Norris and four-time champion Max Verstappen held their starting positions in pursuit. At lap 12, the leading drivers all pitted for tires. On lap 23, Ferrari called Hamilton in again, and he quickly closed on the lead with fresh tires. As others pitted, Hamilton built a 16-second advantage.
After a Virtual Safety Car period, Ferrari brought Hamilton in for a third stop with 24 laps remaining. He returned to the track with a lead of less than three seconds over Russell but held an edge with new hard tires. In the final five laps, Antonelli passed Russell for second, but debris on his front wing forced him to retire, ending his winning streak.
Hamilton finished 19.5 seconds ahead of Russell, with Norris taking third. The trio formed the first all-British podium since 1968. George Russell acknowledged Ferrari's emergence as a threat thanks to significant upgrades. He said: 'Congratulations to Lewis — I know how hard he works. It's great to see him back in the form I remember watching F1 as a kid. They were truly impressive today.'
