Hamilton claims 1st Ferrari win in F1 Barcelona-Catalunya GP

Lewis Hamilton claimed his long-awaited first victory for Ferrari at Sunday's Formula 1 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, delivering a landmark triumph for both driver and team after a difficult first season together.

The seven-time world champion prevailed with a bold three-stop strategy, ending an 18-month win drought and securing Ferrari's first victory since the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix.

While championship rivals George Russell and Kimi Antonelli committed to a conventional two-stop race, Hamilton and Ferrari opted for a more aggressive approach that allowed the Briton to exploit fresher tyres and maintain a relentless pace throughout the afternoon. A virtual safety car on lap 40 further strengthened his position, enabling him to make his final pit stop without surrendering the lead.

Hamilton crossed the line to seal his first win since the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix and the first of his Ferrari career, a moment that carried particular emotional significance after his high-profile switch from Mercedes ahead of the 2025 season.

"First I have to start and say a huge grazie to everyone at Ferrari," Hamilton said.

"I started out a dream which seemed almost impossible during my time last year, but we never gave up hope and the team continued to lift me up. We made so many changes and we made so many improvements.

"I watched Ferrari have all that success when I was younger. I'd always wondered what it would be like to win in that car, and it's come."

Hamilton's arrival at Ferrari was one of the biggest stories in Formula 1 history, but his debut season with the Scuderia proved frustrating. The Briton was consistently outscored by teammate Charles Leclerc and frequently voiced his dissatisfaction as Ferrari struggled to challenge at the front.

The introduction of Formula 1's new technical regulations for 2026, however, has transformed both Hamilton's fortunes and Ferrari's competitiveness. A series of recent upgrades to the SF-26 also appeared to pay dividends in Barcelona as the Italian team secured a breakthrough result.

Behind Hamilton, Russell finished second after leading the opening half of the race from pole position. The Mercedes driver controlled proceedings early on but gradually lost pace during the latter stages of his stints and was unable to respond to Hamilton's charge.

Russell briefly dropped to third on lap 61 when teammate Antonelli overtook him, but the position was returned one lap later when the Italian suddenly slowed and retired with an apparent power-unit problem.

Antonelli's retirement promoted McLaren's Lando Norris to third, marking the first time since 1968 that British drivers had occupied all three places on a Formula 1 podium.

Max Verstappen finished fourth for Red Bull, ahead of Norris' teammate Oscar Piastri and the second Red Bull of Isack Hadjar.

Alpine enjoyed a strong weekend, with Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto finishing seventh and eighth, while Racing Bulls teammates Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad rounded out the points in ninth and 10th.

Despite retiring, Antonelli retains a comfortable lead in the drivers' championship with 156 points. Hamilton's victory lifts him to second on 115 points, while Russell sits third on 106.

Mercedes continues to lead the constructors' standings on 262 points. Ferrari's victory strengthens its hold on second place with 190 points, while McLaren remains third on 141.

The championship resumes at the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring on June 28.