BARCELONA, Spain — Lewis Hamilton said he had to “rebuild” his mentality and block out doubt before securing his first Formula One Grand Prix victory with Ferrari, ending a nearly two-year wait for a race win in an emotional triumph at the Spanish Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion crossed the finish line first at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Sunday, delivering a landmark victory for Ferrari and marking a significant moment in his career after a difficult transition to the Italian team.
Speaking after the race, the 41-year-old Briton revealed that mental resilience played a central role in helping him return to winning ways.
“The thing I know is to never second-guess yourself, never doubt yourself. You’ve got to continue to believe in yourself at the core,” Hamilton said.
“Those are the things that I’ve managed to re-implement into my mentality. And I’ve rebuilt my mind to this point, to get myself back to where I was.”
The victory was Hamilton’s first Grand Prix win since joining Ferrari and came after months of scrutiny over his performances and the team’s ability to challenge for championships.
Despite the criticism, Hamilton said he never questioned his decision to leave Mercedes and begin a new chapter with Ferrari.
“I truly believed in my decision in joining Ferrari. I truly believe what this team could achieve, what we could achieve together,” he said.
“I know it started out with lots of excitement and then lots of doubt and lots of negativity that followed through the whole year.”
Hamilton credited his family, friends and supporters for helping him navigate one of the most challenging periods of his career.
He admitted that public criticism occasionally affected him but said he deliberately stepped away from outside noise and focused on personal growth.
“I went through a sequence of unplugging from that ‘Matrix’,” he said. “I spent lots of time with family, lots of time with friends, real people that know me, that have never doubted me and have stuck by me my whole life.”
The veteran driver added that he embarked on an intense training programme from Christmas, describing it as the hardest preparation period of his career.
The victory carried additional symbolism for Hamilton. Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher also secured his first win for the Scuderia in Barcelona in 1996, a race Hamilton remembers watching as a child.
“I was at home on my couch watching that, with a plate on my lap eating a sandwich,” Hamilton recalled.
“I was 12, just looking at that red car and thinking, ‘I wonder what it’s like to sit in that.’”
Now, three decades later, Hamilton has achieved that dream.
Reflecting on standing atop the podium in Ferrari colours, he described the experience as overwhelming.
“Being in that red suit, standing in first place, in front of that amazing crew, it was really amazing to witness and to see,” he said.
“I nearly passed out. My heart was exploding with joy.”
The result provides a major boost to Hamilton’s championship ambitions as Ferrari seeks to re-establish itself as a dominant force in Formula One. Beyond the points gained, the victory signals that one of the sport’s most successful drivers remains capable of competing at the highest level despite questions over age, form and the challenges of adapting to a new team.
For Hamilton, Barcelona was more than just another race win—it was validation of a decision, a mindset and a comeback years in the making.
