Lewis Hamilton has acknowledged that his chances of winning the Formula One world championship this season have effectively ended, following Kimi Antonelli’s victory at the Spanish Grand Prix. The 20-year-old Italian driver, who currently leads the championship, extended his advantage with the win at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, leaving Hamilton trailing by 101 points with nine races remaining.

Hamilton, a seven-time world champion now racing for Ferrari, retired from the Spanish GP on lap six due to a brake problem. Antonelli, who took over Hamilton’s former seat at Mercedes, has been dominant this season, prompting Hamilton to commend both the driver and the team. “There’s no stopping him and Mercedes this year,” Hamilton said, acknowledging the impressive performance of Antonelli and his team.

Mercedes teammate George Russell holds second place in the championship standings, 81 points behind Antonelli. Despite his own title hopes fading, Hamilton expressed optimism about Ferrari’s progress. “I think we have a good car. We’ve had a pretty decent car, a good car this weekend, and we will continue to try and improve it,” he said, indicating he expects better results as the season progresses.

Antonelli’s win at Barcelona was aided by a strategic advantage during a virtual safety car (VSC) period. Lando Norris, who had been leading the race after securing pole position and maintaining the lead early on, lost track position when he pitted shortly after the VSC was deployed. Antonelli, running behind Norris at the time, managed to pit under the VSC, preserving his position ahead of Norris. The latter struggled to regain places on a circuit known for its difficulty in overtaking and ultimately finished third.

Norris expressed frustration with the outcome, calling for a review of the current regulations governing pit stops under virtual safety car conditions. “I got pole, I led the race, and to lose it for nothing in my control is not how a race should be won,” he said, highlighting the impact of race management rules on the result.

With the championship battle seemingly decided in Antonelli’s favour, the remaining races are expected to focus on podium positions and team battles, as Mercedes and Ferrari continue to develop their cars and drivers push for the best possible outcomes this season.