Lewis Hamilton claimed his first victory for Ferrari with a stunning drive at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli suffered a late engine failure. The 41-year-old used a three-stop strategy and a perfectly timed virtual safety car to secure his first win since the Belgian Grand Prix in 2024, ending a drought of 40 races and 686 days.
Hamilton became the oldest Formula One race winner since Jack Brabham in 1970, and his victory cut Antonelli's lead in the drivers' standings from 66 points to 41. The Italian had been bidding for a sixth consecutive win but retired late on after overtaking team-mate George Russell for second place.
Russell had looked set for his first win since the opening weekend, but Hamilton closed in during the final stint. A virtual safety car triggered by Fernando Alonso's stoppage on lap 41 allowed Ferrari to pit Hamilton cheaply, handing him a two-second advantage he never relinquished.
In searing heat with a track temperature of 50 degrees, Hamilton started from second on soft tyres but was held off by Russell at the start. The Mercedes driver led early, while Antonelli received warnings for track limits before mounting a late charge. He passed Russell on lap 61, but his engine failed shortly after, blowing the title race wide open.
Lando Norris finished third for McLaren, with Max Verstappen fourth. The result marked Ferrari's first win since Carlos Sainz's victory in Mexico City in 2024.
