Lewis Hamilton clinched his first Ferrari victory in Barcelona, turning a front‑row start into a win over Mercedes’ George Russell. McLaren boss Andrea Stella said the race delivered “clear indications” that the Scuderia’s upgraded SF-26 is now the quickest car through medium‑speed corners. Ferrari arrived with the most extensive aero package of the season, reshaping the front wing, nose and floor, and boosted straight‑line stability.

Stella stressed that while Ferrari leads on chassis, Mercedes still holds an overall edge thanks to a more powerful power unit. McLaren’s Lando Norris finished third, benefiting from Kimi Antonelli’s retirement, but the team struggled in medium‑ and low‑speed sections where tyre grip proved scarce. He also noted that improving low‑speed aero could shave tenths per lap, and could cut tyre wear.

Looking ahead to the Austrian Grand Prix, Stella expects Ferrari to stay fastest in the corners but predicts Mercedes will remain the best overall package when chassis and engine are combined. He warned McLaren must add grip and refine qualifying tyre work to close the gap. The Barcelona result forces every team to accelerate their upgrade race, and will trial brake maps.