Hamilton claims first Ferrari victory as Antonelli retires in Barcelona

The seven-time world champion delivered a controlled performance to claim his 106th Formula 1 win, ending a wait of almost two years since his last victory and giving Ferrari its first Grand Prix success since 2024.

Starting from the front row, Hamilton spent much of the race battling Mercedes before a well-timed strategy call helped swing the race in Ferrari's favour.

The decisive moment came when a Virtual Safety Car was deployed following Fernando Alonso's retirement, allowing Hamilton to make his final pit stop and retain the lead.

From there, the Briton steadily pulled away from the field to finish comfortably ahead of George Russell, while McLaren's Lando Norris completed the podium.

"It means something extra," Hamilton said after the race. "When I was young, I watched Ferrari's successes on TV. I imagined myself winning in this car."

The race also saw a major twist in the championship battle.

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, who arrived in Spain after a dominant run of victories, suffered his first retirement of the season following a mechanical failure just a few laps from the finish.

Ferrari's hopes of a double podium were also dashed when Charles Leclerc retired after experiencing a power steering issue.

The Monegasque driver had fought his way up the order after starting from tenth on the grid.

Further down the field, Isack Hadjar produced an impressive recovery drive to finish sixth, while Pierre Gasly added more valuable points for Alpine in seventh place.

Hamilton's victory moves him closer to Antonelli in the championship standings and gives Ferrari renewed momentum heading into the next round of the season.