Overview
- Lewis Hamilton delivered his first Grand Prix victory for Ferrari at the Barcelona Grand Prix, ending a long winless run and returning him to race-winning form.
- The result moved Hamilton ahead of team-mate Charles Leclerc in the standings and cut Kimi Antonelli’s lead to roughly 40–41 points, making Hamilton a realistic title contender.
- Pundits and ex‑champions including Jacques Villeneuve have publicly urged Ferrari to back Hamilton’s bid, arguing the team can concentrate resources behind the driver best placed to chase the championship.
- Ferrari upgrades and an aggressive three‑stop strategy, helped by a timely Virtual Safety Car, appear to have suited Hamilton’s driving style and sped the team’s turnaround.
- The win produced off-track ripple effects: Carlos Sainz’s future and a proposed radical season format are again in the mix, and reports say Ferrari’s shares rose after Hamilton’s breakthrough.