Barcelona Winners and Losers: Hamilton Ends Drought as Ferrari, Mercedes Split Fortunes

Lewis Hamilton claimed his 106th career win in Barcelona, ending a 686-day drought and handing Ferrari their first 2026 victory. The result capped a weekend of sharp contrasts, as Hamilton's masterclass coincided with a nightmare outing for teammate Charles Leclerc and fresh misery for Mercedes.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's resurgence in his second Ferrari season suggests he has found his footing after a turbulent 2025 debut. The win rekindles his title hopes and exposes execution flaws at Mercedes, who remain winless since Australia despite starting at the front.

The details:

• Hamilton seized victory by exploiting a safety car and superior Ferrari strategy, overtaking Mercedes' George Russell after the team squandered pole with questionable calls.
• Lando Norris secured third for McLaren, ending a run of engine failures and pointless outings that had ruined his recent form.
• Max Verstappen dragged Red Bull's RB22 to fourth on a high-degradation circuit, keeping his title defense alive.
• Charles Leclerc crashed in qualifying and retired with a power steering failure, extending a slump that has derailed his season since Miami.
• Kimi Antonelli's podium streak ended with a late DNF while ahead of Russell, plus a post-race five-second penalty for track limits.

What's next:

With Hamilton rediscovering winning form, the title battle is set to tighten through the European summer. Leclerc must arrest his slide, while Mercedes needs to fix their strategy before the deficit grows.