Brilliance in Barcelona as we saw Lewis Hamilton take his first victory for the world-famous Scuderia Ferrari. 686 days since Hamilton's last win at the 2024 Belgium Grand Prix, Ferrari ended their winless drought as Hamilton came home P1 with a 19.5-second gap, the biggest win margin of the season. “FORZA FERRARI, GRAZIE TUTTI” screamed Hamilton over the radio after he claimed a win that Ferrari fans will remember for years to come.

Six drivers retired over the duration of the Grand Prix, two notable names being the championship leader Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, both retiring in the latter stages of the race. George Russell claimed second place to bounce back after what has been a dreadful few races for him, while Lando Norris capitalized on Antonelli's engine failure to round off the podium, making it an all-British top three for the first time since 1968.

Barcelona is regarded as one of the most balanced circuits, featuring slow-speed corners, high-speed corners, and multiple straights. The circuit is also a tyre killer, where we see two-stop strategies prevail and even three stops depending on track temperatures and tyre degradation. After such a dominant win from Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, questions will be asked as to why they did so well at a circuit that favours a balance of downforce and outright engine power. Was this just a fluke and a strategy masterclass from Ferrari, or has the Scuderia genuinely unlocked pace in the SF-26?

Mercedes' long-run pace was mighty as usual, but Ferrari seemed to have taken a step forward as they almost matched the Silver Arrows on their long runs. With Austria next and a rumoured engine upgrade coming to Ferrari, is it game on at the top?

Red Bull Racing had a quiet day at the office, with Max Verstappen finishing fourth and Hadjar in sixth. Their pace seemed to be miles off that of Mercedes and Ferrari as they are lacking downforce and still haven't reached the minimum weight requirement. Double points finishes for both Alpine and Racing Bulls as they seem to be the class of the midfield up to this point in the season, with Alpine taking seventh and tenth while Racing Bulls secured eighth and ninth.

Mercedes strike back in Spielberg as George Russell produced a flawless drive to claim victory at the Red Bull Ring, bouncing back from a difficult run of races and reminding the paddock why Mercedes remain the benchmark in 2026. Starting from pole position, Russell controlled the Grand Prix from lights out to the chequered flag, fending off relentless pressure from Max Verstappen in the closing laps to win by just 1.6 seconds. It was Mercedes’ seventh victory of the season and a crucial response after Ferrari’s breakthrough triumph in Barcelona.

Max Verstappen crossed the line in second after an outstanding recovery drive, having crashed during the closing stages of qualifying and started fifth on the grid. The Dutchman fought his way through the field and came within touching distance of Russell in the final stint, but ultimately ran out of laps. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli completed the podium just 0.3 seconds behind Verstappen, meaning the top three were separated by less than two seconds at the finish in one of the closest endings of the season.

The Red Bull Ring is one of the shortest laps on the Formula One calendar, but don’t let its length fool you. Long full-throttle sections place huge emphasis on straight-line speed and energy deployment, while the heavy braking zones punish tyres and brakes throughout the afternoon. With temperatures soaring in Spielberg, tyre management became one of the defining factors of the race, and Mercedes once again demonstrated why their long-run pace has been the class of the field in 2026.

After Ferrari’s dominant victory in Barcelona, many expected the Scuderia to continue their momentum in Austria following the introduction of their highly anticipated engine upgrade. Instead, the weekend proved to be a reality check. Lewis Hamilton could only manage fifth after struggling with tyre degradation and overheating throughout the race, while Charles Leclerc slipped backwards to finish eighth. With Silverstone next on the calendar, Ferrari will be searching for answers as they attempt to understand why the pace shown in Spain failed to translate to a circuit demanding outright efficiency and power.

Red Bull will leave their home Grand Prix encouraged after showing genuine signs of progress. Verstappen’s charge to second suggested the latest upgrades have moved the team closer to Mercedes, while Isack Hadjar continued his impressive rookie campaign with another strong sixth-place finish. McLaren endured a relatively quiet afternoon, with Oscar Piastri finishing fourth ahead of Hamilton, while Lando Norris salvaged seventh after another difficult weekend. Racing Bulls continued their excellent run in the midfield as Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad secured ninth and tenth, while Cadillac suffered a nightmare afternoon with both cars retiring in the opening laps alongside Lance Stroll and Carlos Sainz.

Attention now turns to Silverstone for Round 9 of the 2026 Formula One World Championship. With Mercedes back on top, Red Bull showing renewed pace, and Ferrari desperate to bounce back after a disappointing weekend, the British Grand Prix promises to be another fascinating chapter in what is becoming an unforgettable 2026 season. See you then.

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Coming Soon