Lewis Hamilton ended his long wait for a Formula One race win by driving to victory at the Barcelona Grand Prix. The Brit took home his first triumph in Ferrari red after the Italian constructor masterfully executed a three-stop strategy, with a little help from a safety car along the way.
It was elation in the Ferrari garage, but for once, despair in the Mercedes camp, given George Russell was forced to surrender pole to his former team-mate Hamilton. Russell did finish in P2, but that was in part only because Kimi Antonelli retired late in the day after his engine failed, leaving the championship leader stranded at the side of the track.
However, as is commonplace nowadays, there has been plenty of off-track drama in the aftermath of the race, with the result having been changed.
Barcelona Grand Prix result changed after chequered flag
Franco Colapinto was found to have breached the regulations surrounding yellow flags, meaning the result of the Barcelona Grand Prix has changed. Lewis Hamilton had been flagged for the same infringement, but was deemed not at fault. However, there has been no such luck for Colapinto, who was slapped with a 10-second penalty.
The Argentine crossed the line in eighth, which means the penalty had a direct bearing on the final standings. It has ultimately cost the Alpine driver three points, while Racing Bulls duo Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad are bumped up one place in the standings.
Lewis Hamilton reduced to tears after Barcelona win
Hamilton cut a visibly emotional figure after winning his first Formula One race since 2024. Hamilton started in second behind former team-mate George Russell, but the Ferrari man kept chipping away at the Mercedes ace. It forced Russell and his team into some lax decisions, with Ferrari on hand to capitalise.
After crossing the line in first, Hamilton rushed over to his Ferrari team, but was seen having a moment to himself where he looked overcome by emotion. Meanwhile, after going up to the podium, the television cameras spotted Hamilton looking teary-eyed. It's been a long road to this point for Hamilton, having struggled during his first year as a Ferrari driver. But approaching the second half of the 2026 season, the seven-time world champion is seen as a genuine contender for the title.
