'A middle finger to the critics': How F1 rivals reacted to 'special' Hamilton win

For a long time, a Lewis Hamilton Grand Prix victory was not seen as a particularly remarkable event.

He stood on the top step of an F1 podium on 105 different Sundays between 2007 and 2024 - but there's no doubt that his 106th success in Barcelona was different.

More than one of his F1 rivals described it as "special".

Not only did it end a 686-day wait for a Hamilton race win, but it saw the realisation of a childhood dream as he lifted a Grand Prix trophy in Ferrari red for the first time.

Hamilton claims historic first Ferrari victory

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The 41-year-old stood alongside two British drivers on the podium - something that hasn't happened since 1968 - with both second-placed George Russell and third-placed Lando Norris eager to praise a driver they'd both watched growing up.

"I think pretty cool. It's pretty special. It's nice," said Norris.

"The last few weekends he's certainly seemed to have upped his game. It seems like he's making the most of what he's got now, and that's cool to see.

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"I grew up as a fan of Lewis and I don't know if I would still say I'm that kind of fan, but I'm still a fan of him. As a seven-time world champion, it's always a pleasure to see those kinds of things.

"With Ferrari again, it's even cooler to see that partnership come through and pay dividends, as it is doing now. So, yeah, special."

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Hamilton has seven world titles to his name, but this was only his third victory since 2021 and offers some redemption following a tough start to his Ferrari career.

In his first season after his high-profile switch from Mercedes, he finished sixth in the drivers' standings, a whopping 267 points behind Norris.

"I think you could see how much it meant to him," added the reigning world champion.

"He's obviously had a lot of people talk badly about him and he's got a lot of crap online from a lot of people, so it's nice that he can stick the middle finger up to all of them."

Mercedes rivals agree on 'special' moment

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Russell was Hamilton's team-mate at Mercedes between 2022 and 2024 and, as the pole-sitter in Barcelona, was denied a crucial victory by Hamilton's performance on Sunday.

Despite his personal disappointment, he joined Norris in describing the moment as "special".

"We both sort of grew up as fans of Lewis and, you know, for myself, spending three years together in Mercedes, so much respect.

"It was a big, bold move to join Ferrari and to see it now paying off for him is very special given the magnitude of the decision."

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The victory saw Hamilton cement his status as a contender for this year's drivers' title, cutting the gap to leader Kimi Antonelli to 41 points.

The 19-year-old, who suffered a late retirement from second place, was the third driver to use the word 'special' to describe Hamilton's achievement.

"Congrats to Lewis because he had a really, really impressive race," Antonelli told Sky Sports F1.

"I don't think we expected to see that sort of pace from him and Ferrari, so it was special to see him back on the top step."

Even long-time rival Max Verstappen, who took over from Hamilton as the dominant force in F1, was willing to acknowledge the "special" nature of the occasion.

"It is a nice moment. From what I could see he was incredibly quick today," he told reporters.

"Your first win with a new team is always very special, even if you have already won so much."

Wolff points to Kardashian factor

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Six of Hamilton's world titles and 84 of his race wins came at Mercedes where he enjoyed a period of dominance between 2013 and 2020.

His former Team Principal Toto Wolff insisted he deserved the victory, even though it came at the expense of his own team.

"He's worked so hard and has gone through so many difficult moments, particularly last year," Wolff explained.

"Wholeheartedly I'm happy for him that he's won.

"I always said, if it's not our two to win, then it should be Lewis, and he merited that today."

Wolff even joked that Hamilton's well-publicised relationship with reality TV star Kim Kardashian was a crucial factor in his return to the top.

"I saw him on the podium, on the telly. That face shows me that he's very happy," he added. "Maybe the girlfriend helps!"

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Another of Hamilton's former Mercedes colleagues, Nico Rosberg, was working for Sky Sports F1 as an analyst in Barcelona.

The two had a difficult relationship as team-mates, as they scrapped for supremacy between 2013 and 2016, but Rosberg was quick to join the chorus of support on Sunday.

"I really felt for the struggles he went through as he started his time with Ferrari. It was horrible to watch," he told Sky Sports F1.

"Now he's just driving so well. He's flying, confident and enjoying it. That's just awesome and for him to get this win is spectacular, it's historic.

"It is a great day for the sport."

Formula 1's European season continues with the Austrian Grand Prix on June 26-28, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime