Few individuals in Method 1 know Lewis Hamilton higher than Toto Wolff. The pair loved one of the profitable partnerships within the sport’s historical past, successful six drivers’ championships collectively throughout a spell of greater than a decade at Mercedes.
Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari forward of the 2025 season did not ship speedy success, with the seven-time world champion enduring a tough maiden marketing campaign with the Scuderia during which he failed to attain a single podium end. However the image has appeared very totally different in 2026.
The Barcelona victory adopted second-place finishes in Monaco and Canada, whereas Hamilton additionally stood on the rostrum in China earlier within the season.
Hamilton beat his former Mercedes group on Sunday. Beginning alongside George Russell on the entrance row, he dedicated to an aggressive three-stop technique and appeared able to difficult for victory even earlier than a digital security automobile intervened late within the race.
When the VSC was triggered, Hamilton was capable of make his ultimate pit cease and emerged forward of the 2 Mercedes drivers earlier than pulling clear to safe Ferrari’s first win of the season.
It additionally marked the primary race in 2026 not received by a Mercedes driver, with Russell victorious in Australia and Kimi Antonelli having received all the opposite grands prix earlier than Barcelona.
Talking after the race, Wolff was among the many first to congratulate his former driver.
“To begin with, congratulations to Lewis,” he mentioned. “He is labored so laborious and has gone via so many tough moments, significantly final yr, that wholeheartedly I am glad for him that he is received.
“I’ve all the time mentioned, if it is not our two [drivers] to win, then it needs to be Lewis. And he merited that right this moment.
“After all you’ll be able to say a VSC perhaps got here on the proper time, however that is what it’s. Joyful for Fred [Vasseur, Ferrari team boss] additionally. We had a tricky time with my pal, even when he annoys me generally, or even when we annoy one another generally.
“However the strain operating Ferrari is gigantic, and that is why I am glad and relieved for him. And it is one thing that’s… he is near my coronary heart.”
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Picture by: Anni Graf – Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Requested what he believes is behind Hamilton’s resurgence, Wolff pointed to each the traits of Method 1’s new technology of automobiles and the driving force’s scenario away from the circuit.
“Laborious work and I feel it is a automobile that’s perhaps totally different to the earlier period automobiles with the bouncing, with the stiffness, perhaps not simple to really feel,” Wolff mentioned.
“And that is again to extra standard driving when it comes to, I might say, not less than aerodynamics and car dynamics. Clearly, the engine administration is totally totally different, however you’ll be able to see he is driving sturdy.
“The dynamics within the group look to be good between him and his race engineer. I noticed him on the rostrum on the telly. I imply, you realize, that face reveals me that he is very glad.
“Perhaps the girlfriend helps! It helped me to have a companion that, you realize, you may have a steady household life and so they appear to be getting on very well.
“I feel it is all of these components that put collectively the emotional, private {and professional} perspective.
“In case you are in a superb place, you win.”
Antonelli’s retirement with 5 laps remaining in Barcelona additionally had championship implications. Hamilton’s victory lowered his deficit to the Italian to 41 factors, whereas Russell’s second-place end leaves the Mercedes driver 9 factors behind Hamilton within the standings.
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