Race Notes - Hamilton wins Barcelona

By Mark Karp

Lewis Hamilton won the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix today in his Ferrari. George Russell (19.561s) in the Mercedes GP took second place, and Lando Norris (23.719s) in the McLaren-Mercedes was third.

Hamilton took his first Ferrari win, and it was his 106th career victory, his first since the Belgian GP in 2024.

At 41-years-old is the oldest Formula One winner since Jack Brabham in 1970. The result today is the first all-British podium since 1968.

Antonelli now leads the Drivers’ World Championship at 156 points, over Hamilton with 115, and Russell with 106.

Mercedes leads the Constuctors’ Championship with 262 points, over Ferrari with 190, and McLaren with 141.

Hamilton is the third different winner of the 2026 season.

Max Verstappen (40.497s) in the Red Bull-Ford was fourth, followed by Oscar Piastri (58.661s) in the McLaren-Mercedes in fifth, Isack Hadjar (1 Lap) in the second Red Bull in sixth, Pierre Gasly in Alpine-Mercedes in seventh, his team mate Franco Colapinto was eighth, Liam Lawson in the Racing Bulls-Ford was ninth and his team-mate Arvid Lindblad took the final point in tenth.

Before the start, Fernando Alonso starts from the pitlane.

Most drivers starting on medium tyres except Hamilton, Verstappen, Nico Hulkenberg, Colapinto, Carlos Sainz, and Esteban Ocon on soft tyres, and Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll and Alonso on hard tyres.

At the appointed time the field came around on the formation lap and lined up on the grid, the light go out and the race starts with Russell taking the lead, followed by Hamilton, Antonelli, Norris, Verstappen, Piastri, Charles Leclerc (up 3-places), Lawson, and Lindblad in tenth.

Hadjar down nine places to 14th.

On lap 2 Hulkenberg passes Lindblad for ninth.

On lap 3 Hadjar passes Sainz for 13th.

On lap 7, Russell leads Hamilton by 3.0 seconds.

On lap 8 Hadjar passes Colapinto for 11th.

Leclerc passes Piastri around the outside for sixth.

Hadjar looking for a way past Lindblad for tenth.

On lap 10 Leclerc is under a second behind Verstappen in fifth place.

On lap 12 Hamilton pits for hard tires and rejoins seventh.

Lawson pits.

On lap 13 Russell pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins fifth ahead of Hamilton.

Verstappen pits and rejoins ninth.

The next lap Norris pits and rejoins sixth.

Hamilton sets 1m21.433s.

On lap 15 Antonelli and Piastri pit, and rejoin fourth and ninth.

Leclerc leads, yet to pit on medium tyres.

On lap 17 Leclerc pits from the lead and takes on hard tyres and rejoins sixth.

Valtteri Bottas retires in the pits.

On lap 18 Hadjar passes Oliver Bearman for ninth.

Bearman pits.

At lap 20 Russell leads Hamilton by 1.9 seconds, followed by Antonelli (7.5s), Norris (9.4s), Verstappen (13.8s), Leclerc (21.3s), Piastri (23.1s), Lindblad (40.7s), Hadjar (42.1s), and Lawson (50.4s) in tenth.

On lap 26 Hulkenberg is looking for a way past Lawson in ninth.

On lap 28 Hamilton pits from second place for fresh medium tyres and rejoins in seventh, and then passes Piastri for sixth place on a quick lap

On lap 29 Vers and rejoins seventh.

Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m20.633s.

On lap 30 Antonelli is under one second behind Russell.

Hamilton is 15 seconds behind the leader running 1m20s laps versus Russell on 1m23s.

On lap 32 Hamilton passes Leclerc for fourth place.

Russell and Antonelli are close, and Antonelli is looking for a way past.

On lap 33 Russell leads Antonelli by 0.6s, followed by Norris (4.6s), Hamilton (10.7s), and Leclerc (16.3s).

On lap 35 Norris pits from third for hard tyres and rejoins sixth.

On lap 37 Russell pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins fourth behind Leclerc.

Antonelli leads with Hamilton 3.9 seconds behind.

On lap 38 Antonelli pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins fourth.

Norris sets fast lap at 1m20.232s.

On lap 39 Leclerc pits and rejoins sixth.

Verstappen pits.

On lap 41 Hamilton pits from the lead takes on fresh hard tyres and rejoins still in the lead.

On lap 42 the Virtual Safety car is out, as Alonso car is parked on the side of the track.

At lap 43 Hamilton leads. Russell by 3.0 seconds, followed by Antonelli (4.8s), Norris (6.2s), Verstappen (25.9s), Leclerc (27.9s), Piastri (33.2s), Hadjar (52.8s), Gasly (1Lap), and Colapinto.

On lap 44, with 22 laps remaining, Hamilton sets fast lap 1m20.122s, and is followed by Russell 4.5 seconds behind with 4 laps older hard tyres.

The stewards are investigating a possible Hamilton yellow flag infringement, but then clear him.

At lap 50, with 16 laps left Bearman passes Gabriel Bortoleto for 14th.

On lap 51 Hamilton leads Russell by 8.3 seconds.

Antonelli has closed to just over one second behind Russell in second.

On lap 53 McLaren is reporting that they think Antonelli is exceeded track limits too many time and might get a penalty.

At lap 55 Hamilton leads Russell by 11.7 seconds, followed by Antonelli (13.5s), Norris (15.3s), Verstappen (32.7s), Leclerc (38.0s), Piastri (46.9s), Hadjar (1m18.3s), Gasly (1 lap), and Colapinto in tenth.

On lap 59 Hadjar pits for soft tyres and rejoins eighth.

On lap 61 into the first corner Antonelli passes Russell for second place.

Antonelli has damage on his right front wing.

On lap 62 Antonelli slows and pulls over to the side of the track and is out.

Leclerc has a problem with his steering and goes wide, and then retires in the pits. The Virtual Safety Car is out.

On lap 66 the virtual safety is turned off and Hamiton wins over Russell and Norris.