Norris firmly believes Ferrari would 'embarrass everyone' with a better engine

After an almost two-year wait, the seven-time world champion finally returned to the top step of the podium and, more importantly, claimed his first victory in Ferrari colours - the 106th of his career. A win that, by his own admission, carries a different feeling from all the others. It was a triumph he had dreamed about and longed for since joining the Scuderia, and it finally arrived at the Spanish Grand Prix, where Hamilton immediately took the fight to the two Mercedes drivers.

The podium, in a sight rarely seen in recent years, featured an all-British top three, with George Russell and Lando Norris finishing second and third behind Hamilton. Norris capitalised on Kimi Antonelli's retirement to secure a return to the podium, despite McLaren struggling for pace throughout the Barcelona weekend compared to both Mercedes and Ferrari.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the race, Norris admitted the Scuderia would be virtually untouchable if it were able to pair its current chassis with a more competitive power unit, arguing that Ferrari is already setting the benchmark through the corners. Norris stressed that McLaren remains a long way from where it needs to be and insisted the team must focus on finding further performance improvements if it wants to close the gap.

With the ADUO tables now reportedly known, Ferrari is understood to be around 4% behind benchmark power unit RBPT. However, the Italian team will still be allowed to develop its engine both this year and next under the regulations, while the Milton Keynes-based outfit is not expected to have the same opportunity to intervene.

Speaking with GPBlog after the race, Wolff praised Hamilton following the Ferrari driver's first dominant victory in red, saying he was delighted to see the Briton finally rewarded after a difficult period, particularly last season. The Mercedes team principal also expressed his happiness for Vasseur, highlighting the immense pressure that comes with leading Ferrari and admitting he felt relieved for his long-time friend despite their occasional disagreements.

At the same time, Wolff admitted he would rather not find himself in a title fight against Hamilton, stressing that he knows better than most what the seven-time world champion is capable of once he gains momentum. According to Wolff, Hamilton has repeatedly shown throughout his career that, once he senses an opportunity, he becomes incredibly difficult to stop.

Asked whether an eighth world title is now a realistic prospect for Hamilton, Wolff answered positively, pointing out that the season is still in its early stages and that a 41-point deficit can quickly disappear. He emphasised the importance of reliability, continued car and power unit development, avoiding mistakes and executing race strategies perfectly to remain in contention.