Hamilton Wins Barcelona Grand Prix, Ending Antonelli’s Streak

Lewis Hamilton won the 2026 Barcelona Grand Prix, the seventh round of the season at the Catalan circuit, and ended Kimi Antonelli’s five-race winning streak. Antonelli retired with a technical failure after leading the championship standings into the race. Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, claimed his first win for the team and the 106th victory of his Formula 1 career.

Hamilton started second behind George Russell and held position at the start despite Antonelli attacking him from behind. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who began 10th after a qualifying crash, gained three places early, while Isack Hadjar climbed from sixth to 13th. Hamilton and Max Verstappen used a different strategy from the rest of the top 10, starting on red tires and making three pit stops each.

The race turned in Hamilton’s favor after Fernando Alonso stopped on the side of the track, triggering a virtual safety car. Hamilton and Verstappen took advantage to make their final stop. Russell closed to within eight seconds when the virtual safety car ended on lap 42, but Ferrari’s pace restored Hamilton’s margin to 11 seconds. On lap 61, Antonelli passed Russell for second, only to suffer engine trouble and retire on the next lap. Leclerc also hit the gravel and picked up a puncture.

Hamilton crossed the line under a checkered flag waved by Novak Djokovic. Russell finished second and Lando Norris third, making the podium all British for the first time since the 1968 United States Grand Prix. The top 10 also included Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, Hadjar, Pierre Gasly, Franco Colapinto, Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad. In the drivers’ standings, Antonelli leads with 156 points, ahead of Hamilton on 115 and Russell on 106. Mercedes tops the constructors’ table with 262 points, followed by Ferrari on 190 and McLaren on 141.