Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari entered the Spanish Grand Prix facing one of the biggest questions of the 2026 Formula 1 season so far: did the SF-26 genuinely possess the pace required to challenge for victory over a full race distance? It was not an easy question to answer before the lights went out, particularly given the extraordinary competitiveness shown by Mercedes throughout the opening phase of the championship.
The Silver Arrows had consistently demonstrated impressive race pace and tyre management in recent events, making them the benchmark for many of their rivals. Against this backdrop, Lewis Hamilton knew that extracting every fraction of performance from the Ferrari would be essential if he wanted to deliver the Scuderia’s first victory of the campaign. Tyre degradation was expected to play a central role throughout the afternoon, while strategy was always likely to be decisive on a circuit as demanding as Barcelona.
Ferrari: Hamilton holds off Antonelli as Charles Leclerc charges forward
Lewis Hamilton’s launch from the front row was stronger than George Russell’s initial getaway, although the Mercedes driver was able to use the power and efficiency of his power unit to maintain an advantage in the opening phase. Behind them, Charles Leclerc enjoyed an excellent start, climbing to seventh position by the midpoint of the first lap and placing himself directly behind Oscar Piastri after gaining three valuable places.
Ferrari elected to start Lewis Hamilton on the Soft compound tyre, mirroring the strategic choice made by Max Verstappen. By contrast, Mercedes and McLaren opted for the more durable Medium tyre. This strategic divergence immediately created an interesting tactical scenario for the race. Aware of the challenges associated with the softer compound, race engineer Carlo Santi quickly reminded Lewis Hamilton not to push beyond the limits of tyre preservation during the opening laps. Excessive thermal stress on the red-walled Pirellis could easily compromise Ferrari’s long-term strategy.
After only three laps, Andrea Kimi Antonelli was already positioned directly behind the Ferrari and beginning to apply pressure. The young Mercedes driver had excellent speed and looked capable of mounting a serious challenge. Keeping him behind appeared likely to become one of the defining tasks of Lewis Hamilton’s opening stint. Onboard footage from the rear-facing camera of the number 44 Ferrari showed clear indications that the tyres were already beginning to experience stress. Carlo Santi continued to emphasise the importance of aggressive tyre management and encouraged the Briton to focus on preserving performance for later in the race.
The same philosophy was being applied on Charles Leclerc’s side of the garage. The Monegasque driver was also instructed to use lift-and-coast techniques in order to protect tyre life and reduce overall stress on the car. At the same time, Lewis Hamilton received a series of suggestions aimed at improving the balance and handling of the SF-26, including the use of a lower gear through Turns 1 and 2 and adjustments to brake balance settings.
Charles Leclerc, however, was not content to simply manage the race. On lap five, at the same corner where his qualifying accident had occurred the previous day, he produced one of the most spectacular overtakes of the afternoon by sweeping around the outside of Oscar Piastri’s McLaren. By lap ten, Lewis Hamilton remained comfortably in second position despite repeated attacks from Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Although tyre degradation was becoming increasingly noticeable, the seven-time world champion was managing the situation extremely effectively and preventing the Mercedes driver from finding a way through.
Hamilton stays with Russell while Charles Leclerc targets Verstappen
At this point in the race, George Russell held an advantage of approximately 3.5 seconds over Lewis Hamilton, while Charles Leclerc steadily reduced the gap to Max Verstappen’s Red Bull. The Ferrari driver clearly possessed strong pace and appeared determined to move forward as quickly as possible.
The objective for Charles Leclerc was obvious. If he could overtake Max Verstappen quickly enough, he would place himself in a position to fight much closer to the front, particularly because his lap times suggested he belonged among the leading contenders.
Shortly afterwards, on lap 12, Ferrari called Lewis Hamilton into the pits for a set of Hard tyres. Charles Leclerc followed a different strategy. With clear air ahead of him, he was able to continue pushing at maximum intensity and briefly found himself leading the race once the first sequence of pit stops unfolded. Ferrari eventually requested that he pit around lap 16, explaining that the move was intended to protect him strategically against Oscar Piastri.
Charles Leclerc initially questioned the decision and preferred to stay out for an additional lap. Eventually he complied, stopping one lap later and switching onto the Hard compound. During the stop, Ferrari also adjusted the front wing by two clicks in an effort to optimise balance and improve overall handling. Throughout this phase of the race, Carlo Santi remained highly active on the radio with Lewis Hamilton. He repeatedly suggested techniques aimed at improving rotation through slower corners. Lewis Hamilton acknowledged the information but generally chose to continue with his own preferred driving style.
Santi later proposed what Ferrari referred to as “Plan C” and praised Lewis Hamilton for his outstanding tyre management. Following the completion of the pit-stop cycle, the order remained broadly unchanged, with Charles Leclerc continuing to run behind Max Verstappen. A small technical concern then emerged for the seven-time world champion. The British driver reported difficulties during downshifts, indicating a possible transmission-related issue. Ferrari responded by instructing him to perform a dashboard reset procedure. Fortunately, the problem appeared to disappear shortly afterwards.
The team subsequently requested a detailed tyre phase update from Lewis Hamilton. This information was vital for Ferrari’s engineers, allowing them to assess degradation trends and refine strategic calculations for the remainder of the race.
Ferrari jumps into the lead through Virtual Safety Car strategy
Another interesting aspect of Ferrari’s race centred on the use of lower gears in certain sections of the circuit. Contrary to what some might assume, the objective was not improved traction or greater corner-entry aggression.
Instead, the approach was primarily designed to maximise energy harvesting and battery recharge through the internal combustion engine. It was another example of the increasingly sophisticated strategic and technical management that defines modern Formula 1. Further recommendations regarding vehicle handling followed, particularly concerning precision through the opening sector of the Barcelona circuit.
The race reached a critical turning point on lap 27 when Lewis Hamilton made his second stop, switching onto a fresh set of Medium tyres. As soon as he rejoined the track, Ferrari informed him that the out-lap would be crucial. The importance of that instruction became immediately apparent.
Lewis Hamilton emerged directly behind Oscar Piastri and wasted no time attacking. In one of the standout moments of the race, he passed the McLaren driver around the outside of Turn 4 before immediately setting the fastest lap of the Grand Prix. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc remained on track and was instructed to push as hard as possible. Ferrari wanted maximum pace from the Monegasque driver as the race entered its decisive phase.
Soon afterwards, Lewis Hamilton also moved ahead of Charles Leclerc after the team requested that the number 16 Ferrari allow the faster car through. At this stage Lewis Hamilton was producing exceptional lap times and looked capable of challenging for victory. Carlo Santi repeatedly encouraged him to maintain the intensity, convinced that Ferrari’s strategy could place him in a winning position if he continued to exploit the performance advantage offered by fresher tyres.
It gradually became clear that Ferrari intended to make one additional stop compared to Mercedes. The logic was straightforward: sacrifice track position temporarily in exchange for a major tyre advantage during the closing stages. Several laps later, both Mercedes drivers completed their stops and Lewis Hamilton inherited the lead of the race. Shortly afterwards, Charles Leclerc also returned to the pits and fitted another set of Hard tyres.
Then came the decisive moment. Fernando Alonso stopped on track, triggering a Virtual Safety Car period. Ferrari immediately instructed both drivers to remain within the required delta times.
Lewis Hamilton made another pit stop under the Virtual Safety Car and rejoined the race still in the lead. It was an outstanding strategic decision from the Ferrari pit wall and one that would ultimately prove decisive.
Lewis Hamilton pulls away from Mercedes
With 23 laps remaining, Lewis Hamilton led the Spanish Grand Prix and held an important strategic advantage. His tyres were four laps fresher than those of his nearest competitors, giving him significantly more performance to use during the final stint. Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, continued to struggle further down the order. The Monegasque driver was clearly unhappy with the balance of his Ferrari and was battling persistent oversteer, which prevented him from fully exploiting the potential of the SF-26.
At the front, however, Lewis Hamilton was delivering a truly exceptional performance. His tyre management was outstanding, yet he continued to produce remarkably fast lap times. Lap after lap, he increased the gap to the pursuing Mercedes cars. What made the achievement particularly impressive was that he was simultaneously preserving his tyres and extending his advantage.
The final 15 laps were filled with tension and anticipation. Lewis Hamilton drove with complete precision, making no mistakes despite the enormous significance of what was at stake. A first victory for Ferrari is always special. A first victory for the Briton in Ferrari colours carried even greater emotional weight. The success was thoroughly deserved. Throughout the 2026 season, Lewis Hamilton has increasingly emerged as a central figure within Ferrari, helping guide the development direction of the team and contributing valuable experience both on and off the track.
The victory was also a reward for the immense effort invested by the entire Scuderia, particularly through its recent upgrade programme. Ferrari’s improvements appeared to deliver exactly what was needed in Barcelona. For Lewis Hamilton, the moment represented the fulfilment of a dream. His first victory with Ferrari will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the defining moments of his Formula 1 career.
There was disappointment on the other side of the garage. Charles Leclerc’s qualifying mistake had already reduced his opportunities to fight for victory, and his race became even more difficult when a steering-related issue developed. The number 16 Ferrari eventually returned to the pits, with Charles Leclerc hoping the mechanics might be able to repair the problem and send him back onto the circuit. Unfortunately, the damage proved too severe and retirement became inevitable.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli also retired before the chequered flag, bringing a difficult afternoon to an end for Mercedes. The final chapter of the story, however, belonged entirely to Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton. The number 44 Ferrari crossed the finish line first to win the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix, delivering the Scuderia’s first victory of the season and securing a historic and memorable triumph that could represent a major turning point in Ferrari’s championship campaign.
