Hamilton's first Ferrari win a statement to himself and rest of F1

Lewis Hamilton's historic first victory for Ferrari in the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix was a statement to himself as well as to the rest of Formula 1, and the watching world.

It answered doubts Hamilton admitted to having at times himself about whether he could still do the job at the pinnacle of the sport he once dominated.

And it proved Ferrari could get back to winning ways after a period that was as difficult for them as it was for the driver who has delivered their first win since Mexico in October 2024.

The race turned on a virtual safety car that gifted Hamilton a cheap pit stop and ensured he would come out in the lead from Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

But Hamilton and Ferrari did not need the luck. Mercedes admitted after the race that the seven-time champion would have likely beaten them anyway. It would just have required him to pass their cars on track to do it. Such was his pace on fresher tyres, though, that there was little doubt he would have managed it.

For Hamilton it was a moment of redemption after a first season at Ferrari that left him questioning himself, and others questioning him.

It was painful to watch him at points last year, as he wrestled with the confusion created by his lack of pace. He called the season a "nightmare". He called himself "just useless". He suggested Ferrari should get another driver.

On Sunday, after soaking up the adulation of his team, fighting back tears on the podium, he revealed what he had gone through to get back to the place he belongs.