Antonelli earns 'class act' praise for congratulating Hamilton on first Ferrari win

Kimi Antonelli drew warm praise from fans and rivals alike at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix after making a point of congratulating Lewis Hamilton on his first victory with Ferrari, even as the Italian teenager dealt with his own retirement from the race.

Hamilton drove from second on the grid to claim the win, his seventh-time world championship pedigree on full display as he passed George Russell — his former Mercedes team-mate — to take the victory. Antonelli, who leads the drivers’ standings, was forced out of the race by an electrical issue on his Mercedes, yet he was still present in parc fermé to offer his congratulations to the Briton.

The gesture resonated strongly on social media. “He is a childhood hero for most of the drivers!” one fan posted on Reddit, while another added: “I just hope it stays this way even if they end up fighting for the championship.” Others were struck by Antonelli’s composure given the circumstances of his own afternoon. “He is sad for the DNF but genuinely happy for Lewis,” one comment read, with another noting: “He is returning the favour — Lewis always congratulates him.”

The praise extended to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who finished fourth and was also seen seeking Hamilton out after the race. “The respect across the paddock for Lewis is so amazing to see,” one fan wrote, while another observed: “It was quite amazing to see the shared respect between all of them. They all clearly know and are impressed by one another’s capabilities.”

The result has tightened the championship picture. Hamilton’s win, following his move past Russell in the standings at Monaco, cuts Antonelli’s lead at the top to 41 points. With the Austrian Grand Prix scheduled for 26 to 28 June, the battle between the sport’s most decorated champion and its most exciting young talent shows every sign of intensifying — though, for now at least, with considerable mutual respect on both sides.