Lewis Hamilton’s triumph at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya sparked celebrations throughout Ferrari, earning immediate praise from the highest levels of the Maranello company. Leading the tributes was Ferrari chairman John Elkann, who highlighted the collective value of a success that came after an intense period of technical development and hard work.
“Well done, Lewis, on your first great victory with Ferrari. It is an emotional moment and a very important result that belongs to the entire team and all our fans,” said John Elkann, expressing his gratitude to every member of Ferrari’s racing division.
“I want to thank everyone for the determination, sacrifice and teamwork that are carried out every day with passion and true Ferrari spirit, both at the track and in Maranello.”
Piero Ferrari to Il Resto del Carlino: “It’s not a coincidence, it’s a sign of destiny after Schumacher”
Echoing the chairman’s comments was Ferrari vice-chairman Piero Ferrari. Speaking to Leo Turrini for Il Resto del Carlino and Quotidiano Nazionale, the son of Enzo Ferrari revealed that he watched the race with great tension and saw a meaningful connection between Hamilton’s victory and Ferrari’s historic past.
“I do not believe it is a coincidence that Hamilton achieved his first victory with our car at Barcelona, the very circuit where Schumacher began his extraordinary sequence of successes with Ferrari 30 years ago,” Ferrari explained – “I see it as a sign of destiny, if not even an omen for the future that awaits us.”
The remark naturally brings back memories of Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari era. It was at Barcelona in 1996 that the German secured the first of what would eventually become 72 victories with the Scuderia. Piero Ferrari also shared the more personal side of his Sunday, which he spent away from the pit wall but with the same emotional tension that comes from having Ferrari deeply embedded in his life.
“I was at my home in Castelvetro, just a few kilometres from the factory. Until the chequered flag, I was afraid something might happen. Honestly, even for someone like me who has seen everything, it was a special emotion.”
Ferrari also made sure to congratulate the entire team for its preparation and race execution throughout the Barcelona weekend: “Alongside my congratulations to the champion, I would also like to congratulate the entire team, which did an excellent job both in preparing for the race and in managing the weekend itself,” Ferrari added.
Piero Ferrari’s view on Ferrari’s drivers
Reflecting on Lewis Hamilton’s difficult 2025 season, which had led many to question whether the seven-time world champion’s Ferrari adventure would succeed, Piero Ferrari stressed that several factors had contributed to those struggles: “It was clear, even when he was still racing for Mercedes, that Lewis did not enjoy the cars dominated by ground-effect aerodynamics. Now the regulations have changed and, from the very beginning with this new generation of cars, Hamilton showed that he had absolutely not lost his sharpness, his passion for competition or his instinct for speed.”
“I’m not surprised. Last season, unfortunately, we did not give either him or Charles Leclerc a competitive car.”
As for the Monegasque driver, Piero Ferrari is convinced that Hamilton’s resurgence will not have any negative impact on Charles Leclerc’s performances: “I know Charles Leclerc, and he is not the type of person who will lose confidence simply because he has a very strong team-mate,” Ferrari said.
“After all, Lewis is a seven-time world champion. He holds all the records and is a reference point for everyone. But I am convinced that Charles will soon be able to experience the taste of victory as well.”
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