Formula 1 Spanish GP 2026: Hamilton triumphs with Ferrari in Barcelona, the World Championship reopens

First win in red for Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari are back on top

Barcelona was expecting a memorable race and the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix did not disappoint. At Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, one of the most significant Sundays of recent years for Ferrari unfolded, with the team able to take the victory thanks to an outstanding Lewis Hamilton.

The seven-time world champion took his first win as a Ferrari driver, ending a long wait and handing Ferrari a victory that could change the course of the entire season.

It was not just a triumph built on raw speed. Ferrari impressed with strategy, race management and the ability to react to their rivals’ moves. A strong signal sent to Mercedes and McLaren ahead of the second half of the championship.

A perfect strategy takes Hamilton to the top step of the podium

After George Russell had taken pole position, Mercedes seemed to have control of the weekend. Kimi Antonelli too, the championship leader, had shown extremely competitive race pace, confirming how prepared the German team was to claim an important result.

Ferrari, however, had other plans.

Hamilton stayed in constant contact with the leaders, making the most of impeccable tyre management and an aggressive strategy that proved decisive at the end. The Maranello team interpreted every phase of the race perfectly, choosing the right moment to bring the Briton in and making the most of the opportunities created by the unfolding race.

With fresher tyres than their rivals and a particularly effective SF-26 in the second and third sectors of the Catalan track, Hamilton gradually took control of the situation until building the margin needed to secure a victory that had been missing for far too long.

Hamilton: “I never stopped believing”

The emotion of the British driver at the end of the race was obvious.

After months of criticism and results below expectations, Hamilton explained that he had continued to believe in the Ferrari project and in his own abilities, despite the difficulties encountered while adapting to the new team.

The Barcelona victory represents sporting, but above all mental, relief. For the English champion, it confirms that the decision to leave Mercedes for the Ferrari project can still take him towards new successes.

Mercedes left bitterly disappointed: Antonelli let down by reliability

The Spanish race risks leaving a deep mark in the World Championship battle too.

Mercedes had shown it had the potential to win, but a series of episodes prevented the Brackley team from converting what it had shown during the weekend.

George Russell turned pole position into a valuable second place, but the Briton was unable to answer the pace imposed by Ferrari in the closing stages.

Kimi Antonelli’s afternoon was even more bitter.

The Italian was having another standout race and seemed destined to score big points in the fight for the world title. A few laps from the end, however, a technical problem ended his hopes, forcing him into retirement at the decisive moment of the race.

A heavy blow for the championship leader, who nevertheless remains at the top of the overall standings.

McLaren limits the damage, Verstappen stays in touch

Behind the main protagonists, Lando Norris took an important podium for McLaren.

The Briton drove an intelligent, effective race, taking advantage of others’ problems to climb to third place on the podium and keep the Woking team in the leading positions of the constructors’ standings.

Oscar Piastri finished fifth without managing to join the fight for victory, while Max Verstappen brought his Red Bull home in fourth after a race marked by a constant chase.

The Dutchman extracted the maximum from a car that in Barcelona did not seem up to the best Ferrari and Mercedes.

Ferrari relaunches the World Championship challenge

If until a few weeks ago the championship seemed destined to turn into an all-Mercedes duel, the Spanish GP has completely changed the picture.

Ferrari showed it had a car capable of winning and a team able to manage every phase of the weekend without mistakes.

Charles Leclerc’s retirement, stopped by a technical problem while fighting in the leading positions, prevented the team from completing a perfect day. However, the message sent to the rivals is clear.

Ferrari are back.

With Hamilton on the rise, an increasingly competitive SF-26 and a World Championship still wide open, the 2026 season promises to deliver a battle set to last until the final race.

The ratings for the 2026 Spanish GP

Lewis Hamilton – 10

The perfect race. Masterful tyre management, decisive overtakes and champion-like composure in the key moments. The first victory with Ferrari has the taste of a rebirth.

George Russell – 8,5

He claims an outstanding pole and fights for victory for much of the race. In the end he has to give in to Ferrari’s strategy but brings home big points.

Lando Norris – 8

He maximises McLaren’s potential. He does not have the pace to win but takes a deserved podium with a solid, mistake-free performance.

Max Verstappen – 7,5

He battles as always to the very last lap. Red Bull are not at the level of the best, but he still manages to limit the damage.

Oscar Piastri – 7

A correct but uninspiring weekend. He brings important points to McLaren without managing to join the fight for the podium.

Kimi Antonelli – 8,5

He would have been one of the standout protagonists of the race. The technical failure deprives him of a result that now seemed certain. No responsibility for the young Italian.

Charles Leclerc – 5,5

An unlucky weekend. The pace was competitive but the technical problem ends any chance of a major result.

Fernando Alonso – 5

His final appearance in the home GP ends with a retirement that leaves Spanish fans bitterly disappointed.

Ferrari – 9,5

A virtually perfect performance. Impeccable strategy, a fast car and masterful race management. The only blemish is Leclerc’s retirement.

Mercedes – 8

Very fast in qualifying and competitive in the race. Antonelli’s bad luck and a less effective strategy than Ferrari prevent a better result.

McLaren – 7,5

They get the maximum possible with Norris on the podium and Piastri in the top five. A positive weekend but there is still something missing to win.

A victory that can change the championship

Formula 1 leaves Barcelona with one certainty: the 2026 World Championship is more open than ever.

Lewis Hamilton’s victory is one of the most important moments of the season and could become the turning point in Ferrari’s title chase. After months of waiting, Ferrari are back on the top step of the podium and they did it on the day a strong signal was needed.

Now the pressure shifts to the rivals. Hamilton is winning again. Ferrari are back to being feared.