Hamilton reveals he carried injury through first Ferrari season

Lewis Hamilton secured his maiden Ferrari victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, ending Mercedes' unbeaten 2026 start while revealing he raced through an undisclosed injury from his troubled 2025 debut. The seven-time champion said the issue stemmed from his pre-season testing crash in Barcelona, shedding new light on a difficult first year with the Scuderia.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's breakthrough validates his blockbuster move and reframes his 2025 struggles as a fight against hidden physical adversity rather than declining form. The win cuts his deficit to championship leader Kimi Antonelli to 41 points, making a record eighth title suddenly appear credible. For Ferrari, ending its drought proves the team can disrupt Mercedes' early-season dominance.

The details:

• Hamilton admitted he was hurt at the start of 2025 during Barcelona pre-season testing and carried the issue for months while adjusting to life at Ferrari.
• He credited rebuilding his mental approach and self-belief as central to regaining the form that delivered his 106th career victory.
• Fred Vasseur praised Hamilton's resilience through lean spells at both Mercedes and Ferrari, insisting the team had enough pace to win even without the late Virtual Safety Car.
• Executive chairman John Elkann hailed the win as an emotional reward for the collective sacrifice of the entire organization and its fans.

What's next:

Hamilton must turn this psychological breakthrough into consistent results to sustain his championship charge. As the season enters its middle phase, maintaining qualifying speed and clean race execution will be essential to closing the gap on Antonelli and keeping Ferrari in the constructors' fight.