Six Months After Brutal Criticism, Elkann Praises Hamilton's Maiden Ferrari Win

Lewis Hamilton claimed his maiden Ferrari victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, dominating in Barcelona with a bold three-stop strategy that snapped the team's winless streak dating back to 2024. The emotional triumph drew immediate praise from Ferrari chairman John Elkann, marking a dramatic reversal from his scathing criticism of the team's drivers just six months ago.

Why it matters:

Elkann's words mark a sharp shift from November 2025, when he publicly blamed Hamilton and Charles Leclerc for Ferrari's failures after a double retirement in São Paulo. Insisting the drivers were "not up to par" and needed to "talk less," he effectively absolved the team's mechanics and engineers of the 2025 collapse that left Ferrari fourth in the standings. Hamilton's commanding 19.5-second win validates his move to Maranello and suggests the lineup is finally meeting Elkann's standard.

The details:

• Hamilton started second but seized control through strategy, pitting on Laps 11 and 28 before a crucial third stop under the Virtual Safety Car on Lap 41.
• While Mercedes kept George Russell on a conservative plan, Ferrari's aggressive tyre management gave Hamilton fresher rubber to streak away to a 19.561-second victory.
• Elkann hailed an "emotional moment" and thanked the team for their "determination, sacrifice and collective effort" at the circuit and in Maranello.
• The result lifts Ferrari to second in the 2026 Constructors' standings, 72 points behind Mercedes but 49 clear of McLaren, a stark improvement from their fourth-place finish last season.

What's next:

With his first win in red secured and Elkann's backing restored, Hamilton will look to build momentum as Ferrari seeks to close the gap to championship-leading Mercedes. The Barcelona masterclass proved the SF-26 can win on pure pace and strategy, raising expectations that the Scuderia can convert second-place potential into a genuine title fight.