Zürcher Nachrichten - Three things we learned from the Barcelona Grand Prix

The Briton's statement victory snapped Kimi Antonelli's five-race winning streak and gave Ferrari their first triumph since October 2024.

AFP Sport looks at three things we learned from Sunday's thrilling race:

Hamilton's Ferrari gamble coming good

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff warned on Saturday that Hamilton can never be counted out and the 41-year-old's superb display on Sunday proved his old friend and colleague right.

Hamilton was able to win his 106th Grand Prix, his first for nearly two years, and crucially his first for Ferrari since his gamble on joining them last season.

The joint-record seven-time world champion struggled badly in his first year with the Scuderia, admitting he let negativity get to him as he failed to secure a podium spot for the first time in his career.

It seemed like his Ferrari switch was a disappointing denouement to a spectacular career.

However, after some hints at a resurgence, with second place in Monaco, everything came together in Barcelona -- the strategy, the pace and Ferrari's hefty upgrade package delivered the car he needed.

Hamilton ended Mercedes' dominance this season and snapped Kimi Antonelli's five-race streak, breathing life into the championship battle. The only thing which wasn't perfect for Hamilton was the colour of his car's cockpit.

"My cockpit happens to be white, which I've not been too happy about," he said. "I wanted (it) to be red like Michael (Schumacher's). I'll get it back red at some stage."

Just over 30 years ago, Schumacher also recorded his first Ferrari Grand Prix victory at the same Montmelo circuit.

"I think this is the first step of our story," said Hamilton.

Antonelli must respond to setback

Teenager Antonelli has spent the last few weeks in a state of grace, racking up five consecutive victories in his Mercedes to stun the F1 world.

The 19-year-old Italian showed no sign of feeling the pressure at the head of the standings, but Barcelona asked new questions of him.

After sitting out the first practice session he took a while to get to grips with the circuit and was frustrated by traffic in the final hour before qualifying.

For the first time this season he did not start on the front row and, worst of all, his car suffered an electrical shutdown late in the race forcing him to retire from second.

"I'm still trying to (understand) what just happened, but I leave the track with the head high as the pace was good," said Antonelli, who admitted he felt "empty" after the retirement.

Antonelli still boasts a solid 41 point lead on Hamilton and 50 on team-mate George Russell in third, and now can show how he responds to adversity.

The youngster said struggles in Europe last season were an important learning experience and in Austria in a fortnight he can prove his quality once again.

Hamilton might have been too fast in Spain, but Antonelli put pressure on Russell and seemed set for 18 points before the car gave out on him.

VSC still a lottery

Telemetry suggests Hamilton had the pace to triumph in any case, but without his third pit stop while the virtual safety car (VSC) was deployed, it would have been a far tighter battle with the Mercedes duo.

Formula One prides itself on precision and small edges but the chance for a cheap pit stop at the right time can shape the destiny of a race.

"I think Lewis would have come through regardless but he obviously jumped us with the virtual safety car," said Russell, second on the podium.

Hamilton was 16 seconds ahead with a third stop to complete before Fernando Alonso brought out the yellow flag and the VSC because of a battery issue.

"Even if we would have come out in front of him, it would have been very tricky to hold him behind," admitted Wolff.

"We would have won the race, perhaps with a bit less (margin)," said Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur.

D.Smith--NZN