Lando Norris says Lewis Hamilton can stick the middle finger to critics after Barcelona win

Hamilton joined Ferrari from Mercedes in 2025 and endured a horrendous first season with the team, off the pace and comprehensively beaten by teammate Charles Leclerc, which was baffling to see.

However, the seven-time F1 Champion returned in 2026 rejuvenated and ready to fight, and early signs showed that the situation was different as he ramped things up in Canada and Monaco, sealing the deal in Barcelona last weekend and taking his first win in Red after a commanding drive.

Hamilton's rivals commented on his first win since 2024, starting with Norris, who said: "I think [it's] pretty cool. It's pretty special. It's nice.

"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.

"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.

"I think you could see how much it meant to him," the McLaren driver added. "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' George Russell, who was beaten by Hamilton last Sunday, added: "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," he added.

Kimi Antonelli, who now may have to consider Hamilton as his F1 Title rival, made sure he congratulated the Ferrari man in parc fermé after the race and said afterwards: "Congrats to Lewis because he had a really, really impressive race.

"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," the Italian added.

Max Verstappen, who fought bitterly with Hamilton in 2021, had his say as well: "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," the Dutchman concluded. (Quotes from Sky Sports F1)