Carlos Sainz pinpoints what ‘saved’ Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari career after his first win

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A huge win for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari in Barcelona, but Carlos Sainz explains what the seven-time world champion’s saving grace was.

Hamilton’s maiden Ferrari win in Barcelona came at the perfect time, as it allowed Ferrari and the Briton to get a foothold in both championship races.

The win seemed to bring an infectiously positive atmosphere to the pit lane, as every F1 engineer congratulated Hamilton on the landmark milestone.

Lewis Hamilton wins his first race with Ferrari! 🎉 Where does this rank in Hamilton’s most satisfying wins?

Lewis Hamilton takes first Ferrari win at Barcelona Grand Prix as Kimi Antonelli retires

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Hamilton’s first win with Ferrari was a long time coming, especially after his struggles in his first year with the team.

However, Carlos Sainz, the man he replaced at Ferrari, believes Lewis Hamilton had a little bit of good fortune this year that allowed him to get the win.

READ MORE: Where Lewis Hamilton ranks in F1’s oldest race winners after Barcelona Grand Prix victory

Carlos Sainz suggests Lewis Hamilton’s ‘saving grace’ has been 2026 F1 regulation change

Speaking to MARCA after the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz explained how he had achieved what Lewis Hamilton has with his resurgence with Ferrari just a few years ago.

While Sainz took nothing away from Hamilton turning his situation around, he does believe the Briton got lucky with the new regulations being in his favour, and that allowed him to get this win.

“It happened to me in 2022. It was a car I didn’t like at all. I adapted, and by 2023 and 2024, I was at a very high level… That’s what defines your career.

“You go to a team with a car you don’t like, and you spend three years there without adapting. Or without the car adapting to you. You feel like you’re missing a car… don’t you?

“But then you go to a team with a car you like and you feel like a god. It’s a much more complicated sport and Lewis [Hamilton] deserves credit for turning it around. The rule changes were his saving grace. If he sticks with last year’s car, we won’t see this Hamilton again.”

READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton makes Michael Schumacher comment after achieving Ferrari dream at Barcelona GP

Lewis Hamilton looked just about perfect in Barcelona, but was there another standout driver that caught your eye?

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Lewis Hamilton deserves credit for resurgence beyond regulation change benefit

While there is some merit to what Sainz is saying, some of his comments do suggest that he’s unhappy about being replaced by Hamilton at Ferrari.

For Sainz to suggest that we wouldn’t be seeing Hamilton at this level in a car under the ground effect era is definitely a way for him to suggest that Hamilton’s recent success is down to the new regulations.

But Sainz might not be the only one upset about Hamilton’s success. In fact, Charles Leclerc was frustrated he didn’t join Hamilton on the podium in Barcelona, which came down to an issue with the car.

While the Ferrari veteran congratulated Hamilton on his victory, and even played the role of a good teammate, there is a concern that Leclerc is being surpassed by Hamilton within Ferrari.

Regardless of Sainz or even Leclerc’s comments, no one can take anything away from the splendid performance and tactics from Hamilton and Ferrari that allowed him to win his first win as a Ferrari driver.