Hamilton still chasing first Ferrari win
Lewis Hamilton arrives at the Spanish Grand Prix still searching for his first win with Ferrari, but with renewed momentum after another strong result in Monaco.
According to Sky Sports’ report on Hamilton’s championship position, the seven-time world champion moved up to second in the standings after finishing runner-up in Monaco, leaving him 66 points behind Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli.
Hamilton said a first Ferrari victory felt close, but admitted the gap in the championship remained significant.
“I mean, it couldn’t be closer,” he said. “But it’s still 66 points. I can’t believe that I’m second in the championship, and I’m really happy and thankful for that.”
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The result underlined Hamilton’s improved form after a difficult start to life in red. His pace has returned at an important stage of the season, although Antonelli’s lead means the title race is still firmly in the young Italian’s hands.
Antonelli sets the standard
Antonelli has become one of the defining stories of the Formula 1 season. At just 19, the Mercedes driver leads the championship and has already shown the speed and composure usually expected from far more experienced drivers.
As reported by Racer, Hamilton praised Antonelli’s performances and said the teenager’s rise had pushed him to raise his own level.
“He is doing a phenomenal job,” Hamilton said. “He’s got an amazing team around him with Bono, with Toto and the whole team.”
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Hamilton added that Antonelli’s early success reminded him of his own breakthrough season in 2007, when he arrived in Formula 1 as a young McLaren driver and immediately fought at the front.
The comparison is striking. Hamilton built one of the greatest careers in the sport from that moment. Antonelli is now trying to write the opening chapters of his own.
Ferrari turns to Beganovic in practice
Ferrari will also use the Barcelona weekend to give one of its young drivers another opportunity in a Formula 1 car.
Ferrari confirmed in its Spanish Grand Prix preview that Dino Beganovic will replace Hamilton during first practice, in line with the rule requiring teams to give track time to drivers with limited Grand Prix experience.
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Beganovic, a long-time member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, will use the session to gather data for the team rather than chase headlines.
“My aim is to do the job the team requires of me, provide useful feedback, and adapt to the car as much as possible,” he said. “If I can do that, it will be a positive session for the whole team and hopefully an enjoyable one for me too.”
The run is another step in the Swede’s development and a reminder that Formula 1’s next generation is beginning to crowd the stage.
A weekend with two stories
For Hamilton, Barcelona is about keeping his title hopes alive and continuing Ferrari’s recent progress. He may be 66 points behind Antonelli, but his Monaco performance showed that he is still close enough to apply pressure if Mercedes falters.
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For Beganovic, the weekend offers a different kind of opportunity. A clean, useful practice session would strengthen his reputation inside Ferrari and add to his case for a bigger role in the future.
That contrast gives the Spanish Grand Prix added interest. At one end of the garage, Hamilton is fighting to prove he can still win at the highest level. At the other, Ferrari is giving another glimpse of what may come next.
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