After a thrilling race Sir Lewis Hamilton claimed his first ever victory for Ferrari at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. This was also his first win since the Belgium Grand Prix in 2024 when he was still a Mercedes driver. In this article we will look at what this means for this year’s Championship and also consider the implications for British F1 as a whole, as this race featured an all British 1-2-3 for the first time since 1968.
A dramatic end to the race saw an emotional Hamilton clinch victory after a crucial virtual safety car (VSC) period where his three-stop strategy proved to be the decisive factor. This victory should help alleviate any concerns about whether leaving Mercedes for Ferrari was the right thing for Hamilton to do, and also silence any doubters who thought that at 41 he might be past his best.
This was Ferrari’s first win since the Mexico Grand Prix in 2024 and a real redemptive moment for Hamilton, who has admitted that even he had moments of doubt after a dire first year with the Italian outfit. Hamilton becomes only the fourth driver to win an F1 race in his 40s since 1958, the others being Graham Hill in 1969, Sir Jack Brabham in 1970 and Nigel Mansell in 1994.
Ferrari Back on Track
There are many factors that could have contributed to Hamilton’s overdue victory. A winter fitness reset, the new cars this year suiting him more than in previous years and even his new relationship with Kim Kardashian could have had an impact on the result. Hamilton has admitted that he was injured at the start of the previous season and carried that with him for months, so his winter training and turning off social media during that period too will have had an impact on his results. The cars this year are back to more conventional driving in terms of vehicle dynamics and aerodynamics which suits Hamilton, while his settled personal life with Kardashian can only help his mindset and results.
After seven races Hamilton is now only 41 points behind Kimi Antonelli, the 19 year old Italian Mercedes driver who is having the season of his young life. Antonelli was forced to retire at the weekend with an electrical problem and faced further woes post-race after he was given a five-second time penalty for multiple instances of over-tracking.
Reliability is looking like an increasing concern for Mercedes this season and if it comes down to the wire, most people would back the seven-time world champion Hamilton to snatch victory from the inexperienced 19 year old youngster. Nevertheless, Antonelli has won five races in a row this season and a key statistic is that no driver in the history of F1 has failed to claim the title after achieving this feat, so a thrilling conclusion to the season surely awaits.
Clean Sweep for the Brits
| Position | Driver | Constructor | Interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | – |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | +19.6 |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +4.2 |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +16.8 |
| 5 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +18.2 |
What of Antonelli’s teammate, the Englishman George Russell who claimed second spot but has admitted that battling with Antonelli mid race cost him precious seconds in Barcelona? If the Mercedes pair continue to scrap, then surely only Hamilton will come out as the main beneficiary. Defending champion Lando Norris completed the podium in Barcelona making it a British 1-2-3 for the first time since the US Grand Prix all the way back in 1968.
In that race Sir Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill and John Surtees claimed the three top spots. It’s also the first time since 1983 that any country has swept the podium. Forty-three years ago France’s Patrick Tambay, Alain Prost and Rene Arnoux were victorious in San Marino.
Whilst lamenting finishing second in Spain, George Russell heaped praise on his former Mercedes teammate Hamilton, acknowledging how hard he has worked to get back to the top of the podium. Observing that the pace from Lewis was insane, Russell also predicted that Ferrari are the ones to watch in the upcoming races. Russell currently holds third place in the drivers’ standings on 106 points, Hamilton’s teammate Charles Leclerc is in fourth and the defending champion Lando Norris is own in fifth on 73 points.
Can Antonelli Be Caught
With three out of the current top five drivers being from the UK, this looks likely to be a standout season for F1 in Great Britain. With the British Grand Prix still to come at the start of July it remains to be seen whether the English 1-2-3 can be replicated in front of the passionate fans on home soil.
One thing that is for certain after Lewis Hamilton’s victory in Barcelona is that you write off the seven-times world champion at your peril. An intriguing battle lies ahead where Hamilton’s aggressive driving style has finally found a car to match it. After describing 2025 as a “building year” things now appear to be clicking for him and the remainder of the F1 season is one not to be missed. The next Grand Prix is in Austria on June 26-28, where this classic season will continue.