Lewis Hamilton unable to defend Barcelona Grand Prix win in 2027 after major change

Ferrari star Lewis Hamilton celebrated successful the Barcelona Grand Prix on Sunday

Lewis Hamilton savoured his long-awaited first victory with Ferrari on the Barcelona Grand Prix however the F1 legend will not get the chance to defend his win subsequent season. The 41-year-old crossed the road almost 20 seconds away from Mercedes’ George Russell on Sunday.

It represents Hamilton’s first triumph in nearly two years following his failure to succeed in the rostrum all through his maiden marketing campaign with Ferrari. It has been a vastly improved season for Hamilton so far, who occupies second place within the driver standings, having secured 4 podium appearances in seven outings.

Hamilton was visibly moved after realising his ambition of successful with Ferrari and notching up the 106th win of his F1 profession. But the seven-time world champion will not have the ability to defend his Barcelona victory subsequent season because the occasion is about to alternate with the Belgian GP at Spa in 2027.

In February, F1 confirmed that the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya would stage races in 2028, 2030 and 2032. As a part of the multi-year association, it was additionally introduced that the circuit’s place on the calendar would alternate with the Belgian GP at Spa in 2027, 2029 and 2031.

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It means F1 will not return to the Catalonian venue till 2028, stopping Hamilton from pursuing consecutive victories subsequent season. The veteran racer is presently contracted till 2027 however rejected hypothesis about retirement final month.

“I am nonetheless in contract so all the pieces’s 100 per cent clear to me. I am nonetheless centered, I am nonetheless motivated, I nonetheless love what I do with all my coronary heart,” Hamilton stated forward of the Canadian GP in Might. “I’ll be right here for fairly a while so get used to it.

“There are lots of people making an attempt to retire me and that is not even on my ideas. I am already pondering of what is going to be subsequent and planning for the following 5 years. However yeah, I nonetheless plan to be right here for a while.”

Hamilton savoured the sensation of his first win with the long-lasting Italian outfit in Barcelona. He will likely be seeking to double his victory rely with Ferrari on the Austrian GP later this month.

“First, I’ve to start out and say an enormous ‘grazie’ to everybody right here, everybody again on the manufacturing unit, and to Fred [Vasseur] for believing in me and bringing me to this workforce,” Hamilton stated. “I began out a dream final yr which appeared nearly unimaginable throughout my time final yr. I almost gave up hope, however the workforce continued to elevate me up.

“We made so many modifications and enhancements and, on prime of that, we’ve got simply the best fanbase a sportsman may ever ask for. So thanks, thanks to all people.”

Reflecting on the place the victory stands amongst his profession highlights, Hamilton added: “They’re all particular in their very own means, however this one is one thing else. I watched Ferrari have all their success after I was youthful, watched it on the TV, after which after I’ve been racing right here I’ve watched the screens and questioned what it will be prefer to win in that automobile.

“And now it is come. Everybody labored so onerous for it and really deserves it, I am without end grateful to them. That is simply the primary, I hope of many. Nice pit stops right this moment, nice technique. The automobile felt implausible. Forza Ferrari!”

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