Lewis Hamilton produced one of many feel-good moments of the 2026 System 1 marketing campaign by claiming his maiden victory for Ferrari on the Barcelona Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion made a blockbuster transfer to the Scuderia in 2025 after 12 legendary seasons at Mercedes, however his debut yr didn’t go as anticipated.
A pissed off Hamilton suffered the primary podium-less marketing campaign of his 18-year profession to complete sixth within the championship in 2025, 86 factors behind team-mate Charles Leclerc and going through doubts over his future.
However the 2026 regulation swap has witnessed a rejuvenation from the 41-year-old, who’d been knocking on the door of victory with back-to-back runner-up finishes earlier than his Barcelona win.
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The victory leaves him second within the championship to Mercedes successor Kimi Antonelli and Hamilton’s 106th profession win was little doubt the speak of the paddock in Catalunya.
Numerous drivers have been requested in regards to the Ferrari man’s success and right here is how they responded.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Picture by: Simon Galloway / LAT Photos through Getty Photos
The roles have form of reversed at Ferrari this yr, as a result of 2025 was extremely robust for Leclerc. However current rounds have seen him go on an reverse trajectory to Hamilton. Barcelona was his second consecutive non-score following the Monaco crash, as the facility steering on his automotive instantly went late within the Catalunya contest.
It was already injury limitation for Leclerc, who was en route to complete sixth after his Q3 crash that induced him to start out tenth. “He is been unimaginable within the final three weekends,” mentioned Leclerc.
“He is been actually on it and he deserves all of it. Now it is as much as me to up my recreation, to seek out this confidence with this automotive, to place the whole lot collectively, and hopefully with clear weekends.
“It is true additionally that the final 4 weekends have not been very clear technically. Additionally, for me, we have had various points, so I am simply wanting ahead to our clear races, taking the rhythm once more, and hopefully preventing the entrance as properly.”
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Picture by: Alastair Staley / LAT Photos through Getty Photos
George Russell completed runner-up to Hamilton in Barcelona after a late retirement for team-mate Antonelli, who suffered an engine failure. Russell spent his first three seasons at Mercedes as Hamilton’s stablemate and was little doubt stuffed with reward for his fellow Briton.
“Congrats to Lewis,” Russell instructed Sky Sports activities. “He had a very, actually spectacular race and a very spectacular day yesterday. I do not assume we anticipated to see that kind of tempo from him and Ferrari. So, it was particular to see him again on the highest step.”
It was Hamilton’s first victory for the reason that 2024 Belgian GP the place he truly crossed the road in second behind Russell, who was later disqualified for an underweight automotive.
“We each grew up as followers of Lewis,” Russell later mentioned within the press convention, sitting alongside Lando Norris. “For myself, spending three years collectively in Mercedes, a lot respect!
“It was a giant, daring transfer to hitch Ferrari and to see it now paying off for him could be very particular to see, given the magnitude of the choice and he’ll be an actual risk.”
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes, Lando Norris, McLaren
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photos through Getty Photos
Antonelli’s late retirement handed a podium to reigning world champion Lando Norris, who final yr turned the primary McLaren driver to take the title since Hamilton in 2008.
“It is fairly particular,” mentioned Norris. “The previous few weekends he is actually appeared to have upped his recreation and as a lot because it was one thing we as soon as may form of reap the benefits of, and attempt to take advantage of, it looks as if he is taking advantage of what he is acquired now.
“It is cool to see. I grew up as a fan of Lewis, I do not know if I’d nonetheless say I am like that form of fan, however I am nonetheless a fan of him and as a seven-time world champion, it is all the time a pleasure to see these sorts of issues. And with Ferrari, it is even cooler to form of see that partnership come by means of and pay dividends as it’s doing now.
“I hope he isn’t this quick the entire season, as a result of it might be good if we may battle a bit extra, however good for him. You can see how a lot it meant to him on the identical time. He is clearly had lots of people speak badly about him and he is acquired plenty of crap on-line from lots of people, so it is good that he can stick the center finger as much as all of them.”
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photos through Getty Photos
Max Verstappen completed the Barcelona Grand Prix in fourth and his 4 consecutive world titles look like a distant reminiscence now contemplating the tempo of the 2026 Crimson Bull automotive. The primary of his championships although, in 2021, got here after a fierce year-long battle with Hamilton that went right down to the ultimate day.
“Congratulations,” mentioned Verstappen, when requested about Hamilton’s victory. “It is all the time tremendous particular to win, even while you’ve received already a lot. To win with Ferrari for the primary time, I feel it is all the time a particular second.”
Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Picture by: Alastair Staley / LAT Photos through Getty Photos
The championship chief was after all the person to take over from Hamilton at Mercedes and that was an enormous job, given he was additionally making his F1 debut as a young person. Antonelli had a rocky debut marketing campaign, however all the time acquired assist from the world champion and that’s nonetheless seen as we speak with Hamilton visibly happy for the 19-year-old each time he wins a race.
In Barcelona, Antonelli returned the favour: “I really feel very empty however I am really glad for Lewis as a result of, to begin with, we have now an important relationship and he is all the time been there for me. To see him attaining considered one of his desires, which was to win with Ferrari, was very, very cool to see.
“So, I am very glad for him and I hope he’ll get pleasure from it,”
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Picture by: Marco Canoniero / LightRocket through Getty Photos
One driver who wouldn’t have been finest happy by Hamilton’s Ferrari transfer can be Carlos Sainz, whose seat he was taking. The Spaniard had received 4 grands prix throughout 4 seasons at Ferrari and proved himself to be an actual contender on the entrance, however as a result of driver marketplace for 2025, he needed to drop into the midfield with Williams. In Barcelona, he completed twelfth.
“It exhibits that this sport has no secrets and techniques,” he mentioned of Hamilton’s win. “All of us have a really excessive stage of expertise, however with totally different driving traits. Some vehicles go well with us, others do not.
“The actual advantage of a driver is with the ability to adapt and with the ability to take no matter System 1 automotive you are given and drive it on the restrict. One thing comparable occurred to me in 2022. Initially of the yr, I had a Ferrari that I actually did not like. Then I managed to adapt, and in 2023 and 2024 I feel I carried out at a really excessive stage.
“It will possibly outline your complete profession. Out of the blue you be part of a staff with a automotive that does not go well with you, and also you spend three years unable to adapt, or the automotive by no means adapts to you, and you may look fully ineffective.
“You then transfer to a staff the place the automotive is completely suited to your type and instantly you appear to be a god. This sport is far more sophisticated than folks assume. Lewis additionally deserves plenty of credit score for turning issues round from final yr to this yr in the best way he has.
“He is additionally benefited from the regulation change as a result of if he’d been caught with final yr’s automotive for one more three years, perhaps we would not be seeing the Lewis we’re seeing this season.”
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Photographs from Barcelona-Catalunya GP – Sunday
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