Kimi Antonelli: We were quickest on track, so I feel a bit empty right now

Hamilton's 106th Formula 1 victory came after a commanding drive in Spain, where Ferrari once again demonstrated both pace and consistency.

While the win strengthened Hamilton's championship credentials, Antonelli was left frustrated after failing to score despite showing he had the speed for P2.

Neverthless, Formula 1's youngest winner - Antonelli - was first in parc ferme to congratulate the man he replaced at Mercedes, and the oldest Grand Prix winner since 1970 - Hamilton.

Reflecting on a tense race under Spanish sunshine, the Italian teenager admitted the result was difficult to accept. Antonelli said, "I think we were quickest on track today. Lewis, at the end, was very quick, but in the second stint we were super quick. Of course, Lewis, after the VSC, was not possible to catch, and by the way, I'm very happy for his win. It's good to see that he got his first win with Ferrari.

"On my side, it's very disappointing. I feel a bit empty right now, but at the same time, these things happen to everyone, and the most important thing is to come back stronger," added Antonelli, who was first to congratulate Lewis Hamilton for his victory in parc fermé.

Hamilton's victory continued Ferrari's strong run of form, with the Scuderia emerging as Mercedes' main challenger in recent races. Asked whether Hamilton should now be considered a genuine title contender, Antonelli left little doubt about the threat posed by Ferrari.

Kimi said of the Scuderia's resurgence: "They're in incredible form. Ferrari are very reliable, but they're quick as well. We just need to maximise every opportunity that we have and then try to do our best, but it's not going to be straightforward."

Antonelli had entered Barcelona leading the Drivers' Championship after a remarkable run of victories, but Hamilton's success highlighted just how competitive the battle at the front has become.

Despite his disappointment, Antonelli was already focused on bouncing back at the next round: "I'm already looking forward to the next one, because I really want to go back to where we left off."

For Mercedes, the pace shown in Barcelona may provide encouragement despite the empty points tally.  Ferrari is now firmly in the mix, and the battle for both titles appears set to intensify as the season moves forward.

For Antonelli, however, Hamilton's Ferrari breakthrough served as a reminder that the championship fight is far from becoming a two car contest. What yetserday was a 66 points lead in the 2026 Formula 1 standings, is this today down to 41.