Lewis Hamilton secured his first victory for Ferrari at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, ending a winless streak that lasted nearly two years. The 41-year-old had not stood on the podium throughout the entire 2025 season, marking the first time in his Formula 1 career without a top-three finish in a single campaign. This season, Hamilton has reclaimed form, now trailing championship leader Kimi Antonelli by just 41 points after seven rounds. His resurgence follows the introduction of the 2026 F1 car regulations, which replaced the ground effect models used from 2022 to 2025—cars that demanded a smoother driving style and did not suit Hamilton's aggressive approach. The new, narrower 2026 cars reward a more forceful technique, and Hamilton immediately adapted, hustling the Ferrari during pre-season testing and matching Charles Leclerc's pace at the Australian Grand Prix. After claiming his first podium with Ferrari in China, two off-weekends raised questions about his consistency heading into the Canadian Grand Prix. At Montreal, Hamilton delivered under pressure with a second-place finish, overtaking Max Verstappen late in the race. Sky Sports F1 analyst Anthony Davidson noted Hamilton's immediate connection with the new car, quoting him saying, "this thing actually talks to me, I can get a read on what it's going to do, I like the way it moves around."
Hamilton's best finish before this win was second place, meaning he still hasn't outperformed Verstappen in a race this season despite the headline victory. His revival hinges entirely on machinery that now suits his style, not a sudden leap in ability. The 41-point gap to Antonelli remains narrow, but every gain depends on the car rewarding aggression. If the 2026 regulations shift again, Hamilton's edge could vanish as quickly as it returned.
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