The Montmeló Autodrome was the scene of a historic chapter for world motorsport this Sunday (14), when Lewis Hamilton climbed to the highest place on the podium for the first time wearing the red jumpsuit. The victory at the Spanish Grand Prix consolidates the veteran’s transition to the Italian team, delivering a result that fans have been eagerly awaiting since the announcement of his signing.
Under extremely high temperatures that punished the Catalan asphalt, the 41-year-old driver jumped from second place on the grid to dominate the race, leaving behind his compatriots George Russell, representing Mercedes, and Lando Norris, from McLaren. The race scenario took a dramatic turn when there were just five laps left before the final check: Kimi Antonelli, an Italian sensation from Mercedes who had an impressive run of five consecutive victories and led the championship alone, suffered an unexpected mechanical failure and had to abandon the race.
The young Italian prodigy’s setback completely changed the mathematics of the season, allowing the seven-time champion to cut the gap in the table from 66 to 41 points, reigniting his real title chances. Immediately after crossing the finish line, the experienced competitor opened the radio to thank the Ferrari mechanics and engineers for their efforts, highlighting that collective work was the key to turning the goal into reality and expressing deep gratitude for the support received behind the scenes.
During the official interviews, the Briton did not hide his emotion as he addressed words of affection to the audience present, highlighting that the support from the stands was essential to regaining his confidence on the tracks. The triumph in Catalonia represents the one hundred and sixth victory of his successful career in the highest category of motor sport, breaking a fast that had lasted since the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix, when he still drove the silver cars and inherited first place after a technical disqualification applied to his teammate.
To find the last time the star effectively crossed the finish line in first position, taking the checkered flag on the track, it is necessary to go back to the Silverstone stage, held weeks before that Belgian race. Meanwhile, George Russell, who had secured the right to start at the front on Saturday, had to settle for second place, a result that also benefited him in the general classification, shortening his disadvantage in relation to the leader to 50 points and once and for all screwing up the fight for the cup.
Assessing the weekend’s performance, the current vice-leader of the race recognized the red car’s superiority in race pace, celebrating the return to the podium, but warning his garage about the need to seek further improvement in the next rounds. Among the national representatives, Gabriel Bortoleto from São Paulo performed an excellent recovery test aboard the Audi single-seater, climbing the field from a modest seventeenth place at the start to cross the finish line in eleventh position, hitting the crossbar in the scoring zone.
The success of the Maranello team, often questioned in the paddock for dubious tactical decisions in previous years, relied on a fundamental dose of luck in the strategy adopted. The Spanish stage progressed without much emotion until lap number 41, out of a total of 66 scheduled, when veteran Fernando Alonso faced engine failures in his Aston Martin, forcing the race management to activate the virtual safety car to safely remove the two-time champion’s vehicle.
Exactly at this moment of neutralization, the seven-time champion temporarily occupied the lead and executed an aggressive plan of three stops, contrasting with the tactic of just two trips to the pits chosen by his German rival. Having made his compound change moments before the yellow flag, he returned to the track with tires considerably newer than those of his direct opponents, which allowed him to set an overwhelming pace and build a comfortable margin in the lead until the end of the afternoon.
The front pack was complemented by Max Verstappen, who took his Red Bull to fourth place, just ahead of Australian Oscar Piastri, representing McLaren. The sixth and seventh positions went to Frenchmen Isack Hadjar, also from Red Bull, and Pierre Gasly, from Alpine, while Argentinean Franco Colapinto secured eighth place for the same French team. The scoring zone was closed by the Racing Bulls duo, formed by New Zealander Liam Lawson and Briton Arvid Lindblad, setting up the final scenario before the next round of the championship, scheduled for the fast Red Bull Ring, in Austria, in two weeks.
