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The great and the good within Formula 1, as well as outside the sport, offered their congratulations after Lewis Hamilton secured his first Grand Prix victory for Ferrari in Barcelona.<\/span><\/p>\n The seven-time World Champion romped to victory at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya<\/a> by nearly 20 seconds having utilised a three-stop strategy in sweltering conditions.<\/p>\n The victory was Hamilton<\/a>‘s first on a Sunday since joining the Scuderia<\/a> at the start of 2025 and, at the age of 41, it makes him the oldest winner of a Grand Prix since Jack Brabham in 1970.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Unsurprisingly, his competitors were quick to offer praise after Hamilton endured a difficult maiden season with Ferrari<\/a>, but so far in 2026 his form looks to have turned around in impressive fashion.<\/p>\n Having finished runner-up in Barcelona, George Russell<\/a> was the first to congratulate his former Mercedes<\/a> team mate with the pair having spent three seasons together.<\/p>\n “Huge congrats to this guy because I know how hard he works,” said Russell, who had led the early stages of Sunday’s race. “We spent a lot of years together at Mercedes, so I\u2019m really pleased to see him back to the Lewis I remember when I was growing up watching Formula 1.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Reigning World Champion Lando Norris<\/a> completed the podium for McLaren<\/a> and also praised Hamilton for his performance.<\/p>\n “Lewis was dominant out there today, I think he would have won the race no matter what,” he said.<\/p>\n “Very happy for him, nice to see him on podium. Nice to see it was an all-British podium since 1968. A cool podium to be up there with George and Lewis, mainly Lewis because he’s just a good guy to be up there with and just a cool experience.”<\/p>\n Retiring from the race in the closing stages after passing Russell for P2, championship leader Kimi Antonelli<\/a> was another to offer his congratulations despite his own disappointment, hailing the man he replaced at the Silver Arrows.<\/p>\n “I’m very happy for Lewis because he’s been chasing that first win with Ferrari for so long, and I’m really happy for him to see him succeed in that,” said the Italian teenager, who leads Hamilton by 41 points in the Drivers’<\/a> standings.<\/p>\n Four-time World Champion Max Verstappen<\/a> reacted on social media himself, saying “Congrats Lewis Hamilton, first win in red”, while Haas driver Ollie Bearman<\/a> also posted “Congratulations to Lewis Hamilton on the win, love seeing the all-British podium”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n