Untelevised team radio footage from the Barcelona Grand Prix has uncovered the joy on the Ferrari pit wall after Lewis Hamilton re-emerged leading Mercedes pair George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.<\/p>\n
It comes after Hamilton claimed the first victory of his Ferrari career in Spain last weekend.<\/p>\n
Untelevised Lewis Hamilton team radio from Barcelona Grand Prix win<\/p>\n
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Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n Hamilton ended a two-year winless streak in Barcelona by taking victory for the first time since his high-profile move from Mercedes to Ferrari at the start of 2025.<\/p>\n The seven-time world champion\u2019s record-extending 106th career triumph saw him continue his impressive start to the F1 2026 season, which has also seen him claim podium finishes in China, Canada and Monaco.<\/p>\n Hamilton utilised an ambitious three-stop strategy in Barcelona, starting on the soft tyres and becoming the first of the leaders to pit on Lap 11.<\/p>\n Analysis: Barcelona Grand Prix<\/p>\n Barcelona GP conclusions: Lewis Hamilton rediscovered, hidden Russell defeat, new Leclerc crisis<\/a><\/p>\n Barcelona GP driver ratings: Hamilton perfect 10 as Russell flatters to deceive<\/a><\/p>\n He ultimately crossed the line 19.5 seconds clear of George Russell, who was promoted to third in the closing stages of the race after a technical problem for Mercedes teammate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli.<\/p>\n Hamilton has been working with a new race engineer in F1 2026 after a change last winter, with Kimi Raikkonen\u2019s former race engineer Carlo Santi<\/a> stepping into the role ahead of the new season.<\/p>\n And untelevised footage from Barcelona has revealed how the Italian engineer guided Hamilton through the pivotal moment of the race, when a timely virtual safety car allowed the Ferrari driver to retain the lead after both Mercedes pitted.<\/p>\n Antonelli\u2019s stop at the end of Lap 37, one lap after Russell, elevated Hamilton into the lead, with Santi telling his driver that he was now facing \u201cthe critical moment\u201d of the race.<\/p>\n In an exchange that made the broadcast, Santi said: \u201cAnd Kimi is in. We are P1.<\/p>\n He then added: \u201cAnd we are planning another seven laps on this set. This is our race, give everything this seven laps. It\u2019s the critical moment, we have our chance.\u201d<\/p>\n Santi then offered an update on Russell\u2019s progress on his first full lap after leaving the pits on a second set of hard tyres.<\/p>\n He reported: \u201cAnd Russell 20.7 first lap after the pit.\u201d<\/p>\n Moments later, Fernando Alonso\u2019s Aston Martin pulled off track to retire, with the ensuing virtual safety car allowing Hamilton to pit for a second set of hards and retain the lead.<\/p>\n The full exchange during the pit stop phase went as follows:<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cVirtual safety car, virtual safety car deployed. Stay positive, stay positive.\u201d<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cAnd mode safety car.\u201d<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cFlap adjust update.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamilton: \u201cI think for a hard tyre, you\u2019ve got to put some wing in.\u201d<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cUnderstood.\u201d<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cAnd watch your delta. Watch your delta.\u201d<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cAnd will be double yellow in Turn 9.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamilton: \u201cWhat is the gap behind us?\u201d<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cIf the VSC remain, we pit.\u201d<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cTwenty seconds to Russell.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamilton: \u201cWhat does that mean for us?\u201d<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cThat you are doing good. Watch your delta.\u201d<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cI\u2019m adding two clicks.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamilton: \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cSo box, box, box.\u201d<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cBrake balance.\u201d<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cFirst gear and K2 reminder.\u201d<\/p>\n Santi\u2019s tone of voice becomes increasingly excitable as he realises that Hamilton will be close to Russell when he rejoins.<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cWatch for traffic, watch for traffic!\u201d<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cYou are fighting Russell pit exit! You are fighting Russell pit exit!\u201d<\/p>\n The Ferrari re-emerges 1.9 seconds ahead of Russell\u2019s Mercedes, with the \u2018VSC ending\u2019 signal appearing just as he rejoins in front.<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cAnd you are in front!\u201d<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cAnd virtual safety car is ending.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamilton: \u201cGreat job, guys!\u201d<\/p>\n Santi then advises Hamilton to disengage straight-line mode manually around the lap, with the driver anxious to know how many laps remain until the finish.<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cA reminder: SM off manually.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamilton: \u201cWhere? Everywhere?\u201d<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cEverywhere, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamilton: \u201cHow many laps left?\u201d<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cEverywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamilton: \u201cHow many laps?\u201d<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cFive laps advantage to Russell in terms of tyre life.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamilton: \u201cYeah, how many laps left?\u201d<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cTwenty-four!\u201d<\/p>\n The remainder of Hamilton\u2019s race went off largely without incident, with the 41-year-old asking on Lap 51 of 66 whether he should ease his pace having established a handsome lead.<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cEight-second gap from Russell.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamilton: \u201cShould I back off?\u201d<\/p>\n Santi: \u201cFifteen laps to go. You are doing a good job, so you can go on.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamilton: \u201cUnderstood.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? 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