The ingenious trick behind Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari F1 resurgence
The Independent
Last updated: June 15, 2026
Lewis Hamilton achieved his first victory with Ferrari, ending a significant winless streak and marking a resurgence in form. This win occurred after a period of substantial car upgrades and strategic decisions by the Ferrari team. The victory also coincided with an all-British podium, a rare occurrence in Formula 1 history.
- Lewis Hamilton secured a dominant victory at the Catalan Grand Prix, his first win with Ferrari and his first since October 2024. The win came after a 28-month drought and 686 days since his last Grand Prix triumph.
- Ferrari introduced eight significant upgrades to their car for this race, making it the fastest on track, even faster than Mercedes.
- A bold three-stop strategy by Ferrari, contrasted with their rivals' two-stop approach, allowed Hamilton to control the race after taking the lead.
- The race featured the first all-British podium since 1968, with Hamilton leading George Russell and Lando Norris.
- Hamilton attributed his recent resurgence partly to switching from Brembo to Carbon Industrie brake discs, which he used at Mercedes, providing him with improved confidence and cornering speed.
- This switch has reportedly impacted his teammate Charles Leclerc, who is now trailing Hamilton in the standings.
- Hamilton now trails Kimi Antonelli by 41 points in the championship standings, but his recent form suggests he is a serious contender for the title.