Ferrari principal Fred Vasseur said Lewis Hamilton would have clinched the Barcelona Grand Prix even without the virtual safety car, citing the Briton’s pace on a three‑stop plan. Hamilton switched from soft to hard tyres on lap 11, then to medium on lap 27, cutting the gap to George Russell from over two seconds to under five.

Vasseur noted that the VSC allowed Hamilton a clean pit stop after Alonso retired on the hard tyre, keeping him ahead of Russell. He added that the final 19.5‑second lead might have narrowed but Hamilton would still win, given the fresh tyre set and the Mercedes duo’s slower hard‑tyre pace.

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff warned that intra‑team battles risk losing time and may need recalibration. The race highlights Ferrari’s strategic edge and Hamilton’s potential to challenge for the title, solidifying his place at the front of the championship.