"You helped me achieve this dream" - Hamilton's emotional message after first Ferrari win
An elated and emotional Hamilton records his first Ferrari grand prix victory in 31 attempts and his first in two years
Lewis Hamilton thanked Ferrari for helping him "achieve a dream" after taking his maiden grand prix win as a member of the Scuderia.
Hamilton and Ferrari went on the offensive in F1's tyre battle on a sweltering Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Unlike most other frontrunners, including poleman George Russell, Hamilton opted for a start of softs, with the excessive tyre degradation all but nailing him to a three-stop strategy.
That allowed the seven-time world champion to fully flex his upgraded SF-26's muscles, putting pressure on Russell and the second Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli as they were nursing their hard tyres, with Russell in particular struggling for pace with a lack of front load.
Hamilton received an additional bit of assistance from old nemesis Fernando Alonso as the Spaniard parked his Aston Martin on lap 40, allowing the Briton to take his first and final stop under virtual safety car conditions.
But the Ferrari's blistering pace in the final stint suggested either Mercedes would have struggled to contain the 41-year-old on his quest for a first Ferrari grand prix win in 31 attempts.
On the cooldown lap, an emotional Hamilton thanked his team for helping him "achieve this dream" of winning in red.
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Clive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
"Grazie a tutti Maranello, thank you so much," Hamilton said. "You helped me achieve this dream and I can't thank you enough. Thank you to everyone for pushing so hard back at home. I'm so proud of you.
"Thank you to my family and thank you to the fans for continuing to remind me who I am, I couldn't have done it without you."
Afterwards, Hamilton said his 106th grand prix win was one of his very best. "They're all special in their own way but this one is something else," he said in parc ferme.
"I watched Ferrari have all their success on TV when I was younger and wondered what it would be like to win in this car. I'm forever grateful and this is hopefully the first of many."
Share Or Save This Story
Why F1's future engine rules offer new opportunities but also new pitfalls
Audi calls for F1 ADUO rethink amid exploit fears
One year on: How Red Bull changed post-Horner
Why Leclerc’s battle of the brakes has left him trailing his Ferrari team-mate
The pre-race tweak that hampered Hamilton's British GP
Hamilton keeps British GP podium after escaping yellow-flag sanction
How Leclerc has changed his steering wheel software for the first time since joining Ferrari
Why Vasseur's steady hand is exactly what fervent Ferrari needs right now
FIA looking into Red Bull and Ferrari's rotating F1 wings after Verstappen crashes
Bagnaia undergoes successful arm surgery, targets MotoGP return at Silverstone
Why F1's future engine rules offer new opportunities but also new pitfalls
How the new WRC event format at Rally Estonia will work
Bedrin commands GB3's European leg to build sizeable points lead
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments