2026 F1 Barcelona-Catalunya GP - full analysis with Peter Windsor

This day in Spain will famously be remembered for the first Ferrari victory scored by Sir Lewis Hamilton.  And it was no gift.  After starting from the front row and splitting the two factory Mercedes in the early race phase, Lewis dramatically chose to make a second tyre change - to medium Pirellis -  at the perfect moment. His mid-race pace on the softer tyres quickly elevated him to the front when the Mercs stopped for their second set of hards - and Lewis always seemed likely to be there at the finish, despite a third pit stop that was looming.  Then fate stepped in - just as it had in Abu Dhabi, 2021, when Nicholas Latiffi's retirement brought out the Safety Car.  On this occasion, Fernando Alonso stopped his slow Aston Martin-Honda at T9; Ferrari missed an immediate pit stop but the Virtual Safety Car conditions were still current as Lewis came round again.  He emerged from the pit lane just in front of George Russell's Mercedes. Head down on slightly newer Pirelli hards, Lewis then drove away to win by the astounding margin of 19.5sec.  Kimi Antonelli passed Russell in a sensational move with six laps to go...but then stopped on track with a dead engine.  Russell thus finished second, ahead of McLaren-Mercedes' Lando Norris, Red Bull-RBPT Ford's Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri in the other McLaren and Isack Hadjar in the second Red Bull.  Peter Windsor in this video looks back at a red-letter day in Spain - in every sense of the word.With thanks to Jetcraft, the world's largest buyer and seller of executive jets:https://jetcraft.comTo TrackNinja, a lap-timer and data app designed to help users improve their on-track car and driver performance through analysis and an innovative Data Garage. A lite version is free; the loaded edition is US$9.99 pcm or $99.99 yearlyhttps://trackninja.appTo OEM Exclusive, the passionate suppliers of OEM upgrades for exotic and high-performance vehiclesAnd to REC Watches, whose timepieces are infused with DNA and actual material from famous racing and road cars. Claim your additional 10 per cent discount by adding the codeword PETER:https://recwatches.com/next-projectImages: Pirelli, Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari and McLarenMusic: Science Montage -Jeremy Blake; Rain over Kyoto Station - the Mini VandalsDiscover this great on-line F1 pdf: momentumracingm.wixsite.com/momentum-racing/inglesBest wishes to the Alora dog rescue shelter (Malaga, Spain): help the van transport of our friends to new locations and win a hamper along the way: https://gofund.me/6ac85a627https://aloradogrescue.comVisit: FXD https://fxdworkwear.com for all your purpose-build, technical workwearVisit: https://alpinestars.com for all your racing apparelTry Oscar Razors - Australia's highly-rated, 5-blade razors for men and women https://oscarrazor.com.au.  Follow Peter @peterwindsorBook a Cameo with Peter: https://cameo.com/peterwindsorContact us at: [email protected] support the Race Against Dementia:https://raceagainstdementia.com#standwithukraine - now, more than ever#Canada! #jimmykimmel!Stephen Gallacher Golf Foundationhttps://sgfoundation.co.ukNick: you're with us always:https://samaritans.orgSupport the showVisit: https://youtube.com/peterwindsor for F1 videos past, present and future