Lewis Hamilton sends emotional team radio message after historic first win for Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton thanked his team, his fans and his family in an emotional team radio message after securing his first win for Ferrari at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
Hamilton won the race by 19.5 seconds ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell, with McLaren's Lando Norris completing an all-British podium.
The Ferrari driver started the Grand Prix in second place behind polesitter Russell, and stayed in that position for the opening two stints.
But the race opened up when Ferrari attempted an alternate strategy with the seven-time world champion, pitting him early for his third stint while the two Mercedes drivers stayed out.
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When Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin stopped at the side of the circuit, Hamilton was comfortably clear of the Mercedes after they had pitted again, allowing him to pit under the virtual safety car and keep the lead.
Hamilton was only three seconds ahead of Russell when he emerged from the pits, but pulled away from the Mercedes pair of Russell and Kimi Antonelli in the last stint.
There was a nervy moment late on when Antonelli and Hamilton's team-mate Charles Leclerc stopped on the same lap, bringing out the virtual safety car, but Ferrari elected to keep their sole remaining driver out and he crossed the chequered flag.
After his first win for Ferrari, Hamilton sent a lengthy thank you message to his team for their support over the past 18 months since he arrived at the team.
“Grazie ragazzi! Grazie a tutti! Everyone at Maranello, thank you so much for helping me to achieve this dream. I just can’t thank you enough. Thank you for everyone pushing so hard back at home. I’m so proud of you. And to my family, I love you. To the fans, thank you for continuing to remind me who I am. I couldn’t have done this without you. Let's go!"
'We never gave up hope' - Hamilton on first Ferrari win
Speaking to his former Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg in his post-race interview, Hamilton said: "First, I have to start by saying a huge grazie to everyone here, my team here at Ferrari. Everyone back at the factory. Fred [Vasseur, team principal] for believing in me and bringing me to this team.
"I started out a dream last year which seemed almost impossible during my time last year. But we never gave up hope.
"The team just continued to lift me up. We made some many changes and we made so many improvements. On top of that, I've got the greatest fanbase a sportsman could ever ask for. So thank you, thank you to everyone."
"They're all special in their own way," he said, when asked where this win ranked among his finest. "But, this one, this is something else.
"I always watched Ferrari have all their success when I was younger, watching it on TV and, as I've been racing here, I've always wondered what it would be like to win it that car.
"And it's come. This is just the first of many. Forza Ferrari."
Topics: Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Formula 1
Ryan Smart