A strategic masterclass gave his maiden victory for on the Barcelona Grand Prix whereas Formulation 1 championship chief retired late on.
The 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 .
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Antonelli’s retirement subsequently meant accomplished the rostrum, one which noticed Hamilton lastly obtain 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 stated after Monaco final weekend that his 106th profession victory “couldn’t be nearer”.
However he was made to work for it, as a “large 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.
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Totally different methods have been proven right away 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 point out 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.
The larger gainer was Hamilton’s team-mate who jumped from tenth to sixth on mediums, earlier than beginning to apply stress on the struggling with softs.
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Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Hamilton and Verstappen subsequently respectively pitted for laborious and medium rubber fairly shortly, coming in on lap 12 with Russell following swimsuit the following tour, although in opposition to his want.
The Mercedes driver was frightened 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.
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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 at Flip 4, earlier than fifth on lap 30 as Verstappen suffered a gradual 4.5s pitstop for laborious rubber.
But choosing a three-stopper become 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.
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, George Russell, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, George Russell, Mercedes
The championship chief subsequently launched numerous assaults on the Briton, every time Russell holding agency, nevertheless it induced the Mercedes drivers to take time 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 repeatedly minimize the hole on contemporary mediums – helped by Norris pitting from third.
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Third quickly grew to become 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 way of 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” is how a buoyant Hamilton reacted, earlier than regularly constructing his benefit throughout a managed closing stage as Mercedes had no reply to the tempo of the Ferrari.
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So the Scuderia finally ended the Silver Arrows’ excellent begin to 2026, taking victory at spherical seven and its first since ’s win on the Mexico Grand Prix in October 2024.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
As for Hamilton, this was his first victory since July of that 12 months 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.
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So it left an all-British podium of Hamilton, Russell and Norris, forward of fourth-placed Verstappen, fifth-placed Piastri and in sixth for Pink Bull.
duo and have been respectively seventh and eighth, with pair and finishing the highest 10.
Antonelli consequently leads the championship by 41 factors over Hamilton, whereas third-placed Russell has minimize his deficit to 50.
Images from Barcelona-Catalunya GP – SundayLewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Group
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Group
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Novak Djokovic arrives within the paddock.
Novak Djokovic arrives within the paddock.
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Group
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Group
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Group, Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Group with Novak Djokovic
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Group, Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Group with Novak Djokovic
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Group, Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Group with Novak Djokovic
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Group, Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Group with Novak Djokovic
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Group, Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Group, Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Group, Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Group, Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
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Drivers’ parade
Drivers’ parade
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Group
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Group
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
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Flavio Briatore, Alpine
Flavio Briatore, Alpine
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Flavio Briatore, Alpine
Flavio Briatore, Alpine
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Group
Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Group
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Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Group
Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Group
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Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Group
Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Group
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
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George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes, Lando Norris, McLaren
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes, Lando Norris, McLaren
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George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Group, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Group, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Group
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Group, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Group, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Group
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Group, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Group, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
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Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Group, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Group
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Group, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Group
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
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Followers
Followers
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Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Group
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Group
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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The Ferrari staff gathered on the podium ceremony
The Ferrari staff gathered on the podium ceremony
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes, Lando Norris, McLaren
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes, Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes, Lando Norris, McLaren
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes, Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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