Lewis Hamilton concedes F1 title fight to Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes: ‘There’s no stopping them’
Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton admitted that he believes that the title fight is over, conceding that his former team Mercedes and driver Kimi Antonelli are running away with both championships.
Antonelli, 20, won his eighth grand prix of the season in Madrid on Sunday, extending his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings to 81 points over his teammate George Russell with nine races remaining on the calendar.
Mercedes leads the constructors’ standings with 503 points, 145 ahead of Ferrari.
Meanwhile, Hamilton, who started fourth, lasted only six laps in Madrid due to a brake issue that saw him retire from the race. He overtook Max Verstappen at the start but soon tumbled down the order after running off track several times, complaining of brake problems over the radio to his team.
Hamilton drove for Mercedes from 2013 to 2024, winning six drivers’ titles with the team. He is third in the 2026 championship, 101 points behind Antonelli. In an interview with Sky Sports after retiring from the race, the 41-year-old said that this year’s title fight is already over.
“There’s no stopping him or Mercedes this year,” said Hamilton. “They’ve done a phenomenal job, and they deserve it.”
Antonelli started second on the grid behind Lando Norris in the inaugural F1 race at the Madring, though he was able to snatch the net lead of the race after pitting under a virtual safety car, while Norris stayed out before pitting under green flag conditions. The Italian eventually took the lead with 10 laps to go, after Hamilton’s teammate Charles Leclerc came in for a stop, and subsequently went unchallenged to the checkered flag.
Norris finished third, while Leclerc came home in fourth to secure 12 points for Ferrari.
Full Spanish GP results
- Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull
- Lando Norris, McLaren
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
- George Russell, Mercedes
- Liam Lawson, Red Bull
- Franco Colapinto, Alpine
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren
- Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
- Nico Hülkenberg, Audi
- Esteban Ocon, Haas
- Pierre Gasly, Alpine
- Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi
- Yuki Tsunoda, Racing Bulls
- Alex Albon, Williams
- Ollie Bearman, Haas
- Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
- Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac
DNF: Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Sergio Pérez (Cadillac), Carlos Sainz (Williams)