Lewis Hamilton described an emotional and long-awaited triumph after claiming his first Formula One victory for Ferrari at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, 14 June.
The seven-time world champion crossed the line first at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya to secure the 106th win of his career and his first since winning for Mercedes in Belgium in 2024.
The result also made Hamilton, aged 41, the oldest Formula One race winner since Australian great Jack Brabham claimed his final victory in 1970.
Hamilton joined Ferrari from Mercedes ahead of the 2026 season, ending one of the most successful partnerships in Formula One history.
After stepping out of the car, the Briton paid tribute to the Ferrari team who helped make the victory possible.
"Grazie a tutti a Maranello," Hamilton said over team radio.
"Thank you so much. You've helped me achieve this dream and I can't thank you enough. Thanks for everyone pushing so hard back at home. I'm so proud of you."
The win was Ferrari's first grand prix victory since 2024 and Hamilton's record seventh success in Spain.
The race also marked a disappointing afternoon for championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
The 19-year-old Mercedes driver had won the previous five races and was running second when an electrical problem forced him to retire with only five laps remaining.
It was the first major setback of a remarkable season for the young Italian, whose lead over Hamilton in the drivers' standings was reduced to 41 points.
George Russell finished second for Mercedes after starting from pole position, while reigning world champion Lando Norris secured third place for McLaren.
The result produced the first all-British Formula One podium since the 1968 United States Grand Prix, when Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill and John Surtees filled the top three positions.
Despite the victory, Hamilton insisted the championship battle is far from over.
"I'm just happy in my life, so I'm in a good place. I love doing what I do. There's no greater feeling than racing a Formula One car," he said.
"There is a long, long way to go and they have still got great pace, as you can see. But we are going to keep working and trying to close that gap. It's not over, that's for sure."
Hamilton was helped by a well-timed virtual safety car, triggered when Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso stopped on track. The neutralisation allowed Ferrari to make a third pit stop without losing position.
Max Verstappen finished fourth for Red Bull, with Oscar Piastri fifth and Isack Hadjar sixth.
Alpine pair Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto took seventh and eighth, while Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad completed the points positions.
There was disappointment for Ferrari on the other side of the garage as Charles Leclerc retired with a reported power steering problem.
For Hamilton, however, the day belonged to him. After months of adapting to life in Ferrari red, the Briton finally delivered the victory both he and the Italian team had been waiting for.
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Here’s your AnewZ Daily Brief for 24 September 2026, with five key developments from the second day of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
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