Lewis Hamilton Ends 686-Day Winless Run With Historic 106th Victory at 2026 Spanish Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton secured his maiden victory for Ferrari at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona on Sunday, ending a winless streak that had stretched 686 days. Starting from second position on the grid, the 41-year-old British driver delivered a strategically flawless performance to take the chequered flag nearly 20 seconds ahead of George Russell, who finished second. Lando Norris completed the podium in third.

The victory was Hamilton’s 106th career Grand Prix win — more than any other driver in the history of Formula 1. A well-executed Virtual Safety Car pit stop proved decisive in the race, allowing Hamilton to emerge ahead of the field and control the closing stages with authority. The result lifts Hamilton in the 2026 Drivers’ Championship standings, injecting new momentum into his title bid during only his second season with Scuderia Ferrari.

In the immediate aftermath of the race, Hamilton was filmed in the media pen receiving a FaceTime call. According to footage shared on social media by photographer Kym Illman, the voice on the other end of the call belonged to Kim Kardashian, who asked, “How do you feel?” Hamilton’s reply was brief but captured the emotional weight of the moment.

The win triggered an immediate and substantial reaction across social media platforms, with thousands of fans attributing Hamilton’s renewed form to his relationship with the American media personality. The phrase “Kim K effect” trended widely on X, with users pointing to Hamilton’s recent run of results — including strong showings in Monaco and Canada — as evidence of a correlation between the couple going public and his return to winning ways.

Some of the reactions circulating on X included posts such as “seems kim k effect is wild on lewis,” “The Kim K effect. He has been on a run since they have been together,” and “Lewis Hamilton starts dating Kim K. Gets his first Ferrari win. WE ARE SO BACK. Vintage Lewis Hamilton.” The volume and consistency of such reactions reflected broader public interest in the intersection of Hamilton’s personal life and professional performance.

Hamilton and Kardashian are reportedly dating after years of moving in overlapping celebrity circles. According to reports, the pair were first romantically linked following a trip to the Cotswolds in February 2026, with subsequent sightings in Paris. They attended Super Bowl LX together and made further public appearances in Tokyo and at Coachella. The couple went Instagram official in early June 2026 when Kardashian shared a photo series from a bike ride in New York, captioned simply “lately.”

Kardashian made her first appearance in the Formula 1 paddock at the Monaco Grand Prix earlier in June, attending alongside her sister Khloé Kardashian. She was present in the Ferrari garage during qualifying on Saturday, June 6, wearing team headphones. Hamilton himself has previously acknowledged her presence positively, crediting her after his podium finish in Monaco, where he was quoted saying “it’s amazing” in reference to her support.

The Barcelona result represents a significant milestone for Hamilton at Ferrari, a move that generated enormous attention when it was announced ahead of the 2025 season. Having gone winless through the final stages of his time at Mercedes and into his debut Ferrari campaign, Sunday’s performance demonstrated the combination of driver and team operating closer to their collective potential. With the 2026 season at its midpoint, Hamilton’s championship challenge now carries considerably more weight.