A strategic masterclass gave Lewis Hamilton his maiden victory for Ferrari on the Barcelona Grand Prix, whereas Formulation 1 championship chief Kimi Antonelli retired late on.
The Mercedes driver was set to complete second behind Hamilton earlier than an engine failure struck with three laps remaining, handing the runner-up spot to team-mate George Russell.
Antonelli’s retirement subsequently meant Lando Norris accomplished the rostrum, one which celebrated Hamilton lastly attaining victory on his thirty first Ferrari begin throughout a rejuvenated 2026.
The seven-time world champion arrived in Barcelona after two consecutive runner-up finishes to Antonelli and mentioned after Monaco final weekend that his 106th profession victory “couldn’t be nearer”.
However he was made to work for it, as a “huge reset” led to Russell beating his former team-mate to pole after slipping 68 factors behind Antonelli who rounded out the highest three beginning positions.
Completely different methods had been proven immediately although, as Mercedes selected the beneficial mediums in comparison with Hamilton on softs, which had beforehand proven fragility within the warmth.
So it didn’t take lengthy for that to indicate within the 30C circumstances, as Russell held agency at race begin earlier than streaking three seconds away from Hamilton throughout a comparatively static opening 10 laps.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Photos through Getty Photos
The most important gainer was Hamilton’s team-mate Charles Leclerc who jumped from tenth to sixth on mediums, earlier than beginning to apply stress on the struggling Max Verstappen with softs.
Hamilton and Verstappen subsequently respectively pitted for laborious and medium rubber fairly shortly, coming in on lap 12, with Russell following go well with the following tour, although towards his needs.
The Mercedes driver was nervous he’d been “uncovered” to Antonelli who’d prolonged his first stint, however race engineer Marcus Dudley confirmed there was “nothing to fret about”.
That’s as a result of Antonelli solely stayed out for 2 further laps earlier than becoming the laborious rubber, the place he rejoined in third to maintain the order because it was throughout an anticipated two-stop contest.
However Ferrari threw one more curveball with Hamilton’s technique by pitting him for mediums on lap 28, having struggled to shut on Russell throughout a really stationary second stint.
The seven-time world champion rejoined in seventh, shortly taking sixth from Oscar Piastri at Flip 4, earlier than fifth on lap 30 as Verstappen suffered a sluggish 4.5s pitstop for laborious rubber.
But choosing a three-stopper changed into a masterstroke from Ferrari, because it allowed a speedy Antonelli to shut to inside half a second of Russell after being caught out by visitors.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, George Russell, Mercedes
Photograph by: Steven Tee / LAT Photos through Getty Photos
The championship chief subsequently launched varied assaults on the Briton, every time Russell holding agency, nevertheless it brought on the Mercedes drivers to take day without work one another whereas Leclerc simply let Hamilton by into fourth on lap 32.
“Am I catching them,” was Hamilton’s response, sensing his finest likelihood but of a maiden Ferrari win as he constantly minimize the hole on recent mediums – helped by Norris pitting from third.
Third quickly turned the race lead as Mercedes pitted each drivers for hards come lap 38, leaving Russell and Antonelli respectively 16s and 17s behind the Ferrari driver earlier than a lap 41 VSC.
That occurred by means of Fernando Alonso stopping at Flip 9, giving Hamilton a well timed alternative to pit for hards and rejoin two seconds forward of Russell simply because the VSC ended.
“Nice job guys” a buoyant Hamilton reacted, earlier than progressively constructing his benefit throughout a managed last stage as Mercedes had no reply to the tempo of the Ferrari.
So the Scuderia ultimately ended the Silver Arrows’ good begin to 2026, taking victory at spherical seven and its first since Carlos Sainz’s win on the Mexico Grand Prix in October 2024.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photograph by: Mark Thompson / Getty Photos
As for Hamilton, this was his first victory since July of that yr in Belgium, crossing the road 19.5s forward of Russell who’d briefly dropped to 3rd after a late overtake from Antonelli down the pit straight.
However solely two excursions later, on lap 63, bother hit Antonelli, because it did Leclerc who’d misplaced the facility steering on the sister Ferrari to retire from sixth.
So it left an all-British podium of Hamilton, Russell and Norris, forward of fourth-placed Verstappen, fifth-placed Piastri and Isack Hadjar in sixth for Pink Bull.
Alpine duo Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto had been seventh and eighth, with Racing Bulls pair Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad finishing the highest 10.
Antonelli consequently leads the championship by 41 factors over Hamilton now, whereas third-placed Russell has minimize his deficit to 50.
F1 Barcelona GP – Race outcome
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