Lewis Hamilton Takes First Ferrari Win at Barcelona Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton won his first race for Scuderia Ferrari at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, delivering the team's first victory of the season.
- 106
- 41
- 6
What Happened
Hamilton started from the front row on used Soft tyres and held second place. The key moment came on lap 40 when Fernando Alonso stopped, triggering a Virtual Safety Car that allowed Hamilton to pit in half the usual time and retain the lead. He managed his tires perfectly and set an unbeatable pace. Teammate Charles Leclerc was forced to retire with a hydraulic issue four laps from the end, after a strong recovery drive.
“This is an incredibly special moment. Winning my first race with Ferrari is something I've dreamt about since I was a child, and to finally achieve it feels incredible.”
249wins
This is Ferrari's first win of the 2026 season.
Why this matters
This win ends a difficult period for Ferrari, showcasing the team's progress and the impact of recent upgrades, while giving Hamilton a dream start with his new team.
Terms in This Story
- Virtual Safety Car
- A race procedure where drivers must slow down under yellow flags but can still pit; used when a car stops on track but no full safety car is needed.
- SF-26
- The designation of Ferrari's Formula 1 car for the 2026 season.
- Scuderia
- Italian term for a racing team, commonly used to refer to Ferrari's Formula 1 team.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.