MONTMELO.- The British Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) gave the surprise by achieving his first victory with the Scuderia in the main race of a Grand Prix, this Sunday at the appointment of Cataloniawhere the championship leader abandoned, Kimi Antonelli (mercedes).
In a tough battle fought under stifling heat on the circuit of Montmelothe veteran seven-time world champion driver, who had started second on the grid, led a 100% British podium, with George Russell (mercedes) second and world champion Lando Norris (McLaren) third.
The young Italian Antonelli, winner of the five previous Grand Prix, was the disappointment of the day with his retirement with five laps to go due to an engine problem, just when he had managed to get second in the race classification.
“To be honest, right now I feel a little empty, but it is what it is,” lamented the 19-year-old driver.
At 41 points
Hamilton, second in the general classification of the Worldarrived in Montmeló 66 points behind Antonelli and has now reduced that disadvantage to 41, precisely the years of his age.
“You have helped me a lot to make this dream come true. I can’t thank you enough,” Hamilton told his team members in a first message.
“To the fans, thank you for making me remember who I am. I couldn’t have done it without you,” he said.
Hamilton thus achieved the 106th victory of his career in Formula 1 and the first after the one he achieved in Belgium in July 2024, after Russell’s disqualification.
The last time he had won a Grand Prix by crossing the line in first place had been three weeks earlier, ahead of his compatriots in Silverstone.
Russell, who had started from pole position, took second place, bringing him closer to within 50 points of leader Antonelli, in a World Championship that is gaining some excitement after this Catalan weekend.
“It’s good to be back on the podium and to have had a problem-free race, but Ferrari was stronger today, so we need to keep working,” he said.
Strategy and fortune
Often criticized for its strategy, Ferrari benefited from a stroke of fate this Sunday.
The race was quite boring from the start and changed on lap 41 of the 66 total, when the Spanish veteran Fernando Alonso saw his car break down Aston Martin and caused the departure of the virtual safety car
Hamilton, who was in the lead, but with a three-stop strategy instead of Mercedes’ two, had just passed through the pits a few minutes earlier and took advantage of the opportunity to stop to change tires.
He then came out in the lead and, with newer tires than those of Russell and Antonelli, he expanded his advantage lap by lap, to be able to enjoy his first victory in red.
The Dutch Max Verstappen (Red Bull) was fourth, ahead of the Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren) and the French Isaac Hadjar (Red Bull) and Pierre Gasly (Alpine).
The Top 10 was completed by Racing Bulls from the New Zealander Liam Lawson and from the British Arvid Lindbladand the Argentine Franco Colapintoeighth with his Alpineat the finish line, who was penalized with ten seconds for an infraction while the yellow flag was waving, completed the top-10.
The Formula 1 will return in two weeks, on the weekend of June 26 to 28 with the Austrian Grand Prix in it Red Bull Ring.
