Lewis Hamilton secured his maiden victory for Ferrari at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion started second and used a three-stop strategy to finish 19 seconds ahead of George Russell.
Hamilton converted his front-row start into a dominant performance on a hot and demanding track. He completed the race with a commanding margin after capitalizing on a virtual safety car period triggered by Fernando Alonso's retirement.
Kimi Antonelli, the championship leader for Mercedes, retired from the race with five laps remaining due to engine trouble. This handed second place to his teammate Russell and allowed Lando Norris to complete the podium in third.
Ferrari chairman John Elkann praised the result in an emotional statement. "Well done Lewis, on your first great victory with Ferrari: an emotional moment and a very important result, which belongs to the entire team and to all our fans," he said.
Hamilton radioed his team after crossing the line: "Grazie a tutti, Maranello. Thank you so much. You've helped me achieve this dream." The win marked his 106th career victory and reduced his deficit to Antonelli to 41 points in the drivers' championship.
