Mind Over Maranello

Hamilton says renewed belief powered his first Ferrari win

Lewis Hamilton said a rebuilt mindset helped carry him to his first Grand Prix victory with Ferrari, ending a winless run of nearly two years at the Barcelona-Catalunya Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday.

The 41-year-old British driver was visibly emotional after crossing the line at Montmeló, where he delivered his first win for the Scuderia since joining the Italian team last season.

Hamilton, a record seven-time world champion tied with Michael Schumacher, said the result came after months of doubt, criticism and personal work to regain the belief that made him one of Formula One’s most successful drivers.

He said the key was learning not to second-guess himself.

“The thing I know is to never second-guess yourself, never doubt yourself, you’ve got to continue to believe in yourself at the core,” Hamilton told reporters.

He said he had worked to restore that mentality after a difficult first year with Ferrari.

“Those are the things that I’ve managed to re-implement into my mentality. And I’ve rebuilt my mind to this point, to get myself back to where I was,” he said.

The win lifted Hamilton back into the title picture, although he remains 41 points behind Mercedes’ teenage championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

Hamilton said he never lost faith in his decision to move to Ferrari, even as pressure grew around him last season.

“I truly believed in my decision in joining Ferrari, I truly believe what this team could achieve, what we could achieve together,” he said.

He admitted the early excitement around his move was soon followed by doubt and negativity, but credited his family, friends and supporters for helping him through that period.

“I really feel like my fans really rescued me last year. My family, also friends, stuck with me through it all,” he said.

Hamilton said he had to shut out outside noise and focus on people who knew him best.

He described the process as unplugging from the “Matrix” and spending more time with family, friends and “real people” who had never doubted him.

The turnaround, he said, began during the holidays.

“I just went on the mission from Christmas Day, the training that I put in, was harder than I’ve ever experienced,” Hamilton said.

The Barcelona win also carried history. Schumacher claimed his first Ferrari victory at the same circuit in 1996.

Hamilton said he remembered watching that race as a child, sitting at home with a plate on his lap and wondering what it would be like to sit in the red car.

Nearly three decades later, he stood on the top step of the podium in Ferrari colors.

“It was really amazing to witness and to see,” Hamilton said. “I nearly passed out… my heart was exploding with joy.”