Lewis Hamilton scores first Ferrari victory as late safety-car swings Spanish GP

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton claimed his first victory for Scuderria Ferrari in dramatic fashion at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix this weekend, capitalizing on a late virtual safety car after championship leader Kimi Antonelli retired from second place just four laps from the finish.

The victory was Hamilton's first since the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix, when he was still driving for Mercedes, and provided a major boost to both his title hopes and his new chapter with Ferrari, as sports outlets report.

The race on June 14 turned in Hamilton's favour when a virtual safety-car period allowed him to make his final pit stop without surrendering the lead. Running a three-stop strategy, Hamilton had been set to emerge behind the two Mercedes drivers, but the VSC enabled him to save around 10 seconds in the pits and rejoin still in front before pulling clear on fresher tyres.

Antonelli's race ended moments after he had overtaken Mercedes teammate George Russell for second place following a long battle. The Italian's car suddenly came to a halt because of an electrical shutdown, ending his hopes of another podium finish.

Without the late VSC intervention, Hamilton's alternative strategy would likely have left him chasing Antonelli and Russell over the closing laps rather than leading the race.

The result cuts Hamilton's deficit to the championship leader to 41 points, while Russell also gained ground and now trails Antonelli by 50 points.

Asked where the win ranked among his 106 career victories, the Brit said:

"They are all special in their own way. But this one is something else. I watched Ferrari have all that success when I was younger, watching it on TV and as I have been racing, I've always watched the screens and wondered what it would be like to win in that car and it has come."

As sports outlets point out, this victory also answered lingering questions that the 41-year-old posed to himself at times over whether he could still compete at the very highest level after his move to Ferrari, delivering an emotional breakthrough in his first season with the Italian team.

"Everyone has worked hard for it and everyone deserves it. I am forever grateful to them and this is just the first of, I hope, many. Great pit stops today, great strategy. The car felt fantastic. Forza Ferrari."

By Nazrin Sadigova