Lewis Hamilton in tears as he ends 686-day wait for F1 race win at Spanish Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton has claimed his first victory with Ferrari to end his 686-day wait for a main race win at the Barcelona Grand Prix.

The seven-time Formula 1 world champion has won in Catalunya, finishing ahead of George Russell and Lando Norris.

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The Brit’s last win on a Sunday came at the Belgian Grand Prix in 2024 after his then-Mercedes teammate Russell was disqualified post-race.

It promoted the 106-time race winner into first position, despite celebrating on the second-place podium.

The 41-year-old’s previous win from crossing the line in first was the Grand Prix prior to Spa, and was at Silverstone.

It marked a 945-day drought as he clinched his ninth victory at his home Grand Prix.

Since Hamilton made his move to the Italian team last season, he has yet to finish on the top step in a Grand Prix win, despite winning the 2025 Chinese Sprint race.

Lewis Hamilton wins Spanish Grand Prix

Last weekend, the Brit finished second behind the championship leader around the streets of Monte Carlo and stated, ‘We will get that win’.

He becomes the first British driver to win a main race for the Scuderia since Eddie Irvine at the 1999 Malaysian Grand Prix.

After the race, Hamilton has closed the gap to 40 points away from the young Italian driver.

His race engineer, Carlo Santi, came on the radio following the result and said: “Well done, Lewis. Finally, you got what you deserved.”

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He responded: “Grazie a tutti. You’ve helped me achieve this dream.

“Thank you to everyone pushing so hard back at home. I’m so proud of you.

“To my family, I love you, and to the fans, thank you for continuing to remind me who I am.”

‘I am forever grateful’ – Hamilton reacts to first Ferrari win

Hamilton later added to his old teammate, Nico Rosberg: “First, I have to start and say a huge grazie to everyone here, my team here, Ferrari, everyone back at the factory, Fred [Vasseur] for believing in me and bringing me to this team.

“I started out with a dream last year, which seemed almost impossible during my time last year, but we never gave up hope, and the team just continued to lift me up. We made so many changes and so many improvements.

“On top of that, I have the greatest fanbase a sportsman could ever ask for. So thank you, thank you to everybody.”

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On how this win ranks among his 106 career victories: “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 true.

“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!”

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Dramatic ending

Russell led for the majority of the race, but after a virtual safety car, Hamilton was able to react quickly and pit ahead of his fellow countryman.

The two Mercedes led behind in podium positions, with the Italian overtaking his teammate; however, in the following lap Antonelli’s car broke down and forced him to stop on track.

Hamilton’s teammate, Leclerc, also slid off the track into the gravel and had to box in the dying stages of the race.

Current world champion Norris was promoted into third place, marking an all-British podium for the first time since the United States Grand Prix back in 1968.

Hamilton’s win marks the first non-Mercedes driver to take the chequered flag this season in a main race.