Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, with a Barcelona win, ended the Mercedes winning streak this season. Hamilton crossed the line ahead of George Russell and Lando Norris on Sunday afternoon. Kimi Antonelli failed to finish the race, which handed the leaders a points advantage. You watched a 41-year-old driver take his first top step since the year 2024. The result also brought the first all-British podium since back in the 1968 season. For fans following the title, this race changed the mood around the championship fight.
How the Lewis Hamilton Ferrari win came together
Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, with a Barcelona win, came from a bold three-stop tyre plan. Ferrari started the Briton on soft tyres, but the opening lap brought no clear lead. Team strategists pitted him early on lap 12 to force the rivals into quick reactions. A Virtual Safety Car then gave Hamilton a free stop at the perfect moment. He delivered fast laps and slowly built a gap over the Silver Arrows pair. Russell settled for second while Norris took third place for the McLaren racing team. Vasseur said his driver would have won the race even without the safety car.
Barcelona win changes the title race
This victory lifted hopes inside the Maranello camp after seasons of frustration and near misses. Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, with a Barcelona win, also gave the team a needed lift. The win counts as his 106th career victory and the team’s 249th in Formula 1. It arrived at the same track where Michael Schumacher first won in red colours. Hamilton became the oldest race winner since Jack Brabham achieved the feat in 1970. Team boss Fred Vasseur said the win was “a lot about resilience” for the driver. From my standpoint, this success shows real grit after a long and testing wait.
The Hamiltons’ first Ferrari victory rewards an eighteen-month effort full of doubt and patience. Kimi Antonelli held second place late before his car shut down on lap 62. An electrical failure ended his run moments after he passed Russell for the spot. The Kimi Antonelli retirement cut his championship lead over the two chasing drivers sharply. Hamilton now sits 41 points behind the young Italian leader in the drivers’ standings.
What the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix 2026 means next
George Russell’s Barcelona pole came after he topped both practice runs by a whisker. Russell led early but lost track position once Ferrari pitted Hamilton ahead of plan. Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, with a Barcelona win, now reshape the title fight ahead. Red Bull took fourth and sixth as Max Verstappen finished ahead of Isack Hadjar. Oscar Piastri claimed fifth to bring useful points home for the reigning constructors’ champions. Pierre Gasly took seventh for Alpine after a strong and steady drive all afternoon. Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad gained eighth and ninth after a rival drew a penalty.
The Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix 2026 also saw seven different cars retire with various faults. Charles Leclerc joined the casualties with a late failure near the front of the field. Aston Martin endured a poor day as both their drivers failed to reach the flag. You should watch Austria next, since momentum and confidence now sit firmly with Hamilton. Vasseur warned his team to stay calm and keep the same approach in Austria.




