15 June,2026 05:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Lewis Hamilton (Pic: AFP)
Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton secured his maiden victory for Ferrari at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in Spain on Sunday.
This victory came in his 31st Grand Prix appearance for Scuderia Ferrari, marking a major turning point for the star. The 41-year-old currently holds the second spot in the world drivers' championship standings, behind teenage prodigy Kimi Antonelli, whose bid for a sixth straight win with Mercedes fell short.
Hamilton's previous campaign in 2025 saw him finish sixth in the final standings, trailing world champion Lando Norris of McLaren. Before Sunday's win, the British driver had experienced a lengthy winless drought, having last won a race at the Belgian Grand Prix in July 2024 during his final stint with Mercedes.
At the start of the race, George Russell successfully maintained his early advantage off the line, with Hamilton, Antonelli, Norris, and four-time world champion Max Verstappen holding their qualifying positions and giving chase.
When the Virtual Safety Car was deployed with 24 laps remaining, Ferrari took advantage of the neutralisation to call Hamilton in for his final stop. Although his lead shrank to under three seconds over Russell upon rejoining the track, the British star held the upper hand with fresh hard-compound tyres to win the race.
Hamilton ultimately crossed the finish line a dominant 19.5 seconds ahead of Russell, while Norris rounded out the top three. The result locked in an historic milestone, marking the first all-British podium sweep in Formula One racing since 1968.
Lewis Hamilton expressed his delight after his maiden F1 win in Ferrari colours. The British star thanked the staff and the fans for their belief in him and hoped that he could kick on from here.
"I started out with a dream last year, which seemed almost impossible during my time last year. But we never gave up hope. The team just continued to lift me up. We made so many changes and so many improvements. On top of that, I've got the greatest fanbase a sportsman could ever ask for. Thank you. Thank you to everybody," Hamilton said after the race.
