7 days · 3 summary articles
Lewis Hamilton ends 686-day winless streak with dominant Ferrari victory in Barcelona
Russell fends off Hamilton at Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
Kimi Antonelli wins Monaco GP, becomes youngest F1 victor in history
Lewis Hamilton ended a 686-day winless streak in Formula 1 on Sunday, claiming his first victory for Ferrari at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona. The seven-time world champion dominated the race, securing a commanding 19.5-second victory over Mercedes’ George Russell, with McLaren’s Lando Norris completing an all-British podium. The triumph marked Hamilton’s first win since the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and delivered a significant morale boost to the Scuderia after a challenging debut season.
Hamilton’s victory came at the expense of championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who retired with mechanical issues just five laps from the finish while running second. The Italian’s exit handed Hamilton a crucial 41-point swing in the drivers’ standings, though Antonelli retained the lead. Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who started 10th after a qualifying crash, fought back to sixth before retiring late with a technical failure. Max Verstappen finished fourth for Red Bull, while Oscar Piastri took fifth for McLaren.
The race unfolded under scorching conditions at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where Hamilton’s strategic three-stop plan outmaneuvered Mercedes’ two-stop approach. Russell, who had briefly led early in the race, was unable to fend off Hamilton’s relentless pace. The result underscored Ferrari’s tactical acumen and Hamilton’s ability to extract performance from the SF-26, a car that had struggled to match Mercedes’ early-season dominance.
Ferrari chairman John Elkann praised Hamilton’s performance, calling it “a historic day for the team.” The victory also carried emotional weight for Hamilton, who had endured a difficult first season with Ferrari after leaving Mercedes. His emotional reaction on the podium reflected the significance of the achievement, coming after 40 consecutive grands prix without a win.
The outcome shifts the narrative in the constructors’ championship, where Ferrari will now push harder for a late-season challenge. For Hamilton, the win reaffirms his status as a race-winner at the highest level, even as he approaches the twilight of his career. With Antonelli’s lead in the drivers’ standings now under pressure, the championship battle remains wide open ahead of the summer break.
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