Hamilton Claims Maiden Ferrari Victory in Barcelona After Antonelli's Late Retirement
Lewis Hamilton's commanding win at the Spanish Grand Prix significantly reduced Kimi Antonelli's championship lead to 41 points after Antonelli's late race retirement.
The story
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya delivered a dramatic race day as Lewis Hamilton secured his first victory for Ferrari, ending Mercedes' 2026 winning streak. Starting second, Hamilton, on a three-stop strategy, showcased superior pace throughout the 66-lap event.
Pole-sitter George Russell initially held the lead, but a well-timed Virtual Safety Car, triggered by Fernando Alonso's retirement, allowed Hamilton to pit and emerge ahead on fresh hard tyres. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who had passed Russell for second place at Turn 1 on Lap 61, suffered a power unit issue on Lap 62 or 63, forcing his retirement.
Charles Leclerc also retired late in the race due to power steering problems. Hamilton crossed the finish line with a significant lead, marking his first Grand Prix win in nearly two years.
On the podium
| Position | Driver | Team | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:32:28.105 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | +19.561s |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +23.719s |
Key moments
Lap 6. Lance Stroll became the first retirement of the day, bringing his Aston Martin into the garage with a gearbox problem.
Lap 12. Lewis Hamilton made an early pit stop, switching to hard tyres and committing to an aggressive three-stop strategy.
Virtual Safety Car. Fernando Alonso's retirement triggered a Virtual Safety Car, which strategically benefited Hamilton, allowing him a 'free' pit stop to take the lead.
Lap 61. Kimi Antonelli overtook his Mercedes teammate George Russell for second place into Turn 1.
Lap 62/63. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli retired from second position due to a power unit or electrical failure.
Championship
| Pos | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 156 |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 115 |
| 3 | George Russell | Mercedes | 106 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 75 |
| 5 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 73 |
Next race
The Formula 1 season continues with Round 8, the Austrian Grand Prix, held at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg from June 26-28, 2026. Following that, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone will take place from July 3-5, 2026.
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