Lewis Hamilton ends Ferrari wait with strategic Barcelona victory over Mercedes

Barcelona June 12-14

Lewis Hamilton’s renaissance continues. He had not won a Formula 1 grand prix since the Belgian in July 2024; he’d not crossed the finish line in front since the British three weeks earlier (George Russell, first at Spa, was disqualified). That drought ended in spectacular fashion at Barcelona, although a handily timed virtual safety car played its part in Hamilton’s first GP victory for Ferrari.

The seven-time world champion needed a mental reset after an underwhelming time in free practice, and bounced back to qualify on the front row, splitting the Mercedes pair of poleman George Russell and runaway series leader Kimi Antonelli. Ferrari gambled on a three-stop strategy for the race, Hamilton starting on soft Pirellis and the Mercs on mediums. This proved no benefit at the start, the dirty track on the Ferrari’s side meaning he trailed Russell away from the lights.

Mark Hughes’ Driver of the day

Lewis Hamilton

It may seem trite to nominate the winner of the race, but this remarkable breakthrough for Lewis Hamilton in taking his first win for Ferrari was thoroughly deserved. It was made a certainty by a late VSC after the Mercedes drivers had pitted but before Hamilton had made his third stop, enabling him to not even lose the lead. But his performance before that, aided by the aggressive strategy Ferrari had deployed, suggested he may well have been about to win it regardless.

Hamilton’s first pitstop came on lap 11 for hard tyres, and Mercedes quickly countered that by bringing in both its cars – consigning Russell and Antonelli to two very long stints on the hards. Hamilton was still second when he made his second stop, this time for mediums, and immediately began slashing into the deficit to the Mercs.

It was only a few laps after Russell and Antonelli had made their second pitstops that the VSC was called for the stricken Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso. Hamilton’s pace on the mediums had elevated him to the lead once the Mercs pitted, and he was able to dive in for his final set of hards while the race was neutralised, emerging just in front.

Russell, his tyres fading, lost second to Antonelli with a few laps remaining, only for electrical problems to sideline the Italian. Lando Norris moved up to third in his McLaren ahead of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, Oscar Piastri (McLaren) and Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), who charged back from a poor start.

1st Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:32:28.105
2nd George Russell Mercedes +19.561sec
3rd Lando Norris Mclaren +23.719sec

Monaco June 5-7

A fifth grand prix victory in a row for Kimi Antonelli, and complete disaster for George Russell. Contrasting emotions once again for the Mercedes pair in Monaco, with Russell even losing the runner-up spot in the points table to Ferrari’s Monte Carlo runner-up, Lewis Hamilton.

Antonelli led from start to finish, through a chaotic closing phase that featured two safety-car periods, a red flag and a restart from the grid. In second, Hamilton had the upper hand over team-mate Charles Leclerc. The local hero then suffered the ignominy of crashing at the Virage Antony Noghès, Leclerc blaming brake failure for an almost carbon-copy of the shunt that had eliminated Lance Stroll. Russell’s non-serving of a time penalty for pitlane speeding meant he was forced to take a drive-through after the restart, and finished outside the points. Pierre Gasly lost third to Isack Hadjar, also for pit speeding, but won it back on appeal.

Driver of the day: Kimi Antonelli
A remarkable demonstration of mastery, totally dominant, controlling the restarts perfectly, pulling out a big gap each time, absolutely untouchable in a drive worthy of comparison with the Monaco greats. Senna or Schumacher would have been impressed.

1st Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 2:23:31.243
2nd Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +6.271sec
3rd Pierre Gasly Alpine +20.369sec

MONTH IN NUMBERS

686
Days between GP wins for Lewis Hamilton – from Spa 2024 to Barcelona ’26

2.13sec
Fastest pitstop of the month by McLaren for Oscar Piastri in the Barcelona-Catalunya GP

58
Years since previous (pre-Barcelona) all-British podium in a GP: Watkins Glen 1968

222.6
Fastest speed trap figure in mph, clocked by Esteban Ocon in the race at Barcelona

1
Point lost by scoreless Cadillac when a time penalty cost Sergio Pérez in Monaco