Lewis Hamilton claimed his first Formula 1 victory with Ferrari after a strategically intense race that ended in dramatic fashion. In F1 Catalan GP George Russell led the early stages, while Ferrari split strategies between Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Late retirements for Kimi Antonelli reshaped the podium battle, allowing Hamilton to take a memorable win ahead of George Russell and Lando Norris.
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At the start, Russell held the lead ahead of Hamilton, while Antonelli moved up to third place. Norris, Verstappen, and Piastri followed, while Leclerc climbed from 10th to 7th. The two Ferraris opted for different strategies: Hamilton started on soft tyres, while Leclerc began on mediums.
We had to wait until lap 8 for the first overtake, when Leclerc passed Piastri for sixth place.
Hamilton opened the pit-stop phase on lap 12, switching to the hard compound. At the end of the same lap, Russell and Verstappen also came into the pits. By the end of lap 15, all of the frontrunners had changed tyres, with only Leclerc staying out on his medium set. The Monegasque pitted on lap 17 and rejoined in sixth place on hard tyres, having extended his first stint by five laps compared to the leaders.
After the first round of pit stops, Russell led Hamilton and Antonelli on lap 19.
The gaps between the leading drivers remained relatively constant. Hamilton therefore made his second pit stop on lap 28. Mercedes then began to split their strategies, while Antonelli started to close the gap to Russell on lap 30. Their battle lasted until Russell’s stop at the end of lap 36, while Norris pitted from third place. Antonelli came in a lap later, with both Mercedes effectively covering Norris.
Hamilton inherited the race lead ahead of Leclerc and Russell.
Leclerc pitted on lap 39, while a Virtual Safety Car was deployed on lap 41. Hamilton changed tyres at the end of that lap and rejoined in first place. Hamilton, Russell, and Antonelli then formed the leading group.
At the start of lap 61, after a long pursuit, Antonelli passed Russell to take second place. A lap later, drama struck: Antonelli retired with a technical issue. Leclerc was also forced to retire due to a steering-wheel problem.
On lap 66, Hamilton claimed his first victory with Ferrari. Russell finished second, while Norris secured third place.
The full results of the race according to FIA.com:
