Lewis Hamilton secured a memorable victory at the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix. But, even before the race began, he found himself at the center of attention following an awkward gridwalk interaction with former teammate Nico Rosberg.
The moment unfolded during the pre-race broadcast at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where Rosberg, now a Sky Sports analyst, approached Hamilton for a quick word. The Ferrari driver acknowledged him briefly but did not stop for an interview, which quickly caught the attention of fans online.
The clip spread rapidly across social media, with fans reacting strongly to the brief but telling interaction. One user wrote on X:
“THE SECOND HAND EMBARRASSMENT 😭😭😭😭.”
Another fan added:
“Imagine getting avoided by your ex in TV like this 💀.”
Others echoed on the larger sentiment, with one comment reading:
“LEWIS SAID SORRY AND WINKED NICO’S GIDDY AS* WOW.”
“Nico was just itching to ask that question, look at his face,” another added.
One fan summed it up:
“Nothing will ever top the sheer passive-aggressive energy of these two in the same vicinity.”
“He was probably surprised that Nico had the courage to talk to him again 🤣😆,” commented yet another.
The reactions stem from the well-documented history between the two drivers. Once close friends during their karting days, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg became fierce rivals during their time as Mercedes teammates from 2013 to 2016. Their on-track battles defined the era, but the intensity of their championship fights ultimately fractured their relationship.
Lewis Hamilton reacts after Spanish GP win following dramatic turnaround
Lewis Hamilton’s on-track performance told a very different story. Starting from the front row alongside George Russell, the Ferrari driver executed a controlled and strategic race to secure his first win with the team.
Despite starting on soft tires and being forced into an early stop, Ferrari committed to a three-stop strategy that ultimately proved decisive, especially with a well-timed Virtual Safety Car allowing Hamilton to regain track position on Lap 42 of 66.
From that point on, the British driver managed the race expertly. Once in clean air, his pace was unmatched, consistently pulling away from Russell and the chasing pack. Even a late-race Virtual Safety Car did little to disrupt his rhythm, as he built a commanding lead to take the chequered flag.
Speaking after the race to Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton reflected on the significance of the win and the journey it took to get there:
“First, I have to start to say a huge grazie to everyone here, everyone back at Ferrari, Fred for believing me and bringing me to this team. It seemed impossible, the team continued to lift me up, we made so many improvements. And I have the best fanbase a sportsman could ever ask for. They are all special in their own way, but this one is something else. I watched Ferrari have all this success when I was younger. Everyone has worked so hard for this, everyone deserves it. This is the first I hope of many. Forza Ferrari.”
The victory marked a complete turnaround from earlier in the weekend. Hamilton had struggled through practice after missing FP1 and lacked rear grip across both FP2 and FP3. Ferrari also appeared vulnerable on the long straights, making them the third-fastest team heading into qualifying.
However, setup changes and improved balance transformed their performance, allowing Lewis Hamilton to secure a front-row start and convert it into a dominant race win.
Edited by Anurup Chakraborty
