Revealed: What Max Verstappen said to Lewis Hamilton after Barcelona GP win

Lewis Hamilton delivered Ferrari's first victory of the 2026 season at the Barcelona Grand Prix, securing his record-extending 106th career win and ending Mercedes' early monopoly. The 41-year-old dominated proceedings to finish 40 seconds clear of Max Verstappen, who later put their bitter 2021 rivalry aside to personally congratulate Hamilton in parc ferme.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's triumph marks his first win since leaving Mercedes and proves he made the move to Maranello to fight for titles, not merely to see out his career. It also represents the first non-Mercedes victory of the 2026 campaign, suggesting the competitive order may finally be opening up. With championship leader Kimi Antonelli suffering his first retirement, Hamilton closed the gap to 41 points and firmly rejoined the title hunt.

The details:

• The victory was Hamilton's first since the 2024 season finale with Mercedes, and his maiden win in Ferrari red.
• Verstappen, who finished fourth after what he called a "lonely race," posted on social media: "Congrats Lewis Hamilton, first win in red," a message that has drawn over 750,000 likes.
• In parc ferme, Verstappen told Hamilton: "Well done. Congratulations." He later told media that winning with Ferrari for the first time is "always a special moment" regardless of how many races a driver has already won.
• Ferrari chairman John Elkann praised the "emotional moment" and thanked the team for their "determination, sacrifice and collective effort" in securing the result.
• The win came on a mixed day for the Scuderia, as Ferrari's unbeaten streak at the Le Mans 24 Hours since entering the hypercar class in 2023 was ended by Toyota.

The big picture:

Hamilton's performance in Barcelona is a reminder that raw racecraft and experience remain formidable assets in Formula 1. With Antonelli finally showing vulnerability and Ferrari unlocking genuine race-winning pace, the championship is no longer looking like a Mercedes coronation. If Maranello can sustain this level of performance, Hamilton's dream move to Ferrari could yet evolve into a genuine eighth title charge.