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Lewis Hamilton delivered Ferrari‘s first Grand Prix victory of the 2026 season at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, and the tributes have been arriving ever since. The, latest and perhaps best, comes from the top of the Prancing Horse itself.
Ferrari Executive Chairman John Elkann issued a personal statement following the result, one that carries extra weight given everything that has happened between the chairman and his drivers over the past twelve months.
“Well done Lewis, on your first great victory with Ferrari: an emotional moment and a very important result, which belongs to the entire team and to all our fans.
“I would like to thank everyone for the determination, sacrifice and collective effort that they demonstrate every day with passion and Ferrari spirit, both at the track and in Maranello.”
Elkann sparked significant controversy last season by publicly urging Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc to “talk less” and focus on their performances, an assessment that did not go down well with the paddock or the fanbase.
Hamilton’s first year at Ferrari turned into one of the most disappointing of his career, with the team failing to deliver a single Grand Prix podium across the entire season.
Elkann’s willingness to call that out loudly was blunt even by Maranello standards.
But Sunday’s result has hinted that maybe they should have been listening to Hamilton in the first place.
Ferrari gambled on a three-stop strategy that played out flawlessly, with Hamilton gaining a free stop under a Virtual SafetyCar, and the seven-time champion did the rest.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli was then forced out of second place with four laps remaining, handing Hamilton the kind of winning margin that made the result look even more commanding in hindsight.
Elkann’s statement also celebrated Ferrari’s Le Mans programme in the same breath, a reminder that for the chairman, the company’s motorsport identity extends well beyond Formula 1:
“My thanks also go to the other Ferrari team, which tackled an incredibly demanding 24 Hours of Le Mans with pride, unity and great professionalism, fighting until the very end.
“Forza Ferrari.”
The victory was Hamilton’s 106th in Formula 1 and, per his own admission, one he genuinely wondered whether he’d ever achieve in red. Hamilton himself said he “started out a dream which seemed almost impossible during last year.”
Elkann told him to talk less. He probably should have started listening sooner instead.
Continue reading...
Ferrari Executive Chairman John Elkann issued a personal statement following the result, one that carries extra weight given everything that has happened between the chairman and his drivers over the past twelve months.
“Well done Lewis, on your first great victory with Ferrari: an emotional moment and a very important result, which belongs to the entire team and to all our fans.
“I would like to thank everyone for the determination, sacrifice and collective effort that they demonstrate every day with passion and Ferrari spirit, both at the track and in Maranello.”
Why Elkann’s Words Matter More Than Usual
Elkann sparked significant controversy last season by publicly urging Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc to “talk less” and focus on their performances, an assessment that did not go down well with the paddock or the fanbase.
Hamilton’s first year at Ferrari turned into one of the most disappointing of his career, with the team failing to deliver a single Grand Prix podium across the entire season.
Elkann’s willingness to call that out loudly was blunt even by Maranello standards.
But Sunday’s result has hinted that maybe they should have been listening to Hamilton in the first place.
Ferrari gambled on a three-stop strategy that played out flawlessly, with Hamilton gaining a free stop under a Virtual SafetyCar, and the seven-time champion did the rest.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli was then forced out of second place with four laps remaining, handing Hamilton the kind of winning margin that made the result look even more commanding in hindsight.
Elkann’s statement also celebrated Ferrari’s Le Mans programme in the same breath, a reminder that for the chairman, the company’s motorsport identity extends well beyond Formula 1:
“My thanks also go to the other Ferrari team, which tackled an incredibly demanding 24 Hours of Le Mans with pride, unity and great professionalism, fighting until the very end.
“Forza Ferrari.”
The victory was Hamilton’s 106th in Formula 1 and, per his own admission, one he genuinely wondered whether he’d ever achieve in red. Hamilton himself said he “started out a dream which seemed almost impossible during last year.”
Elkann told him to talk less. He probably should have started listening sooner instead.
Continue reading...
