Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff playfully suggested that Lewis Hamilton's resurgence in form, culminating in his maiden Ferrari victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, could have something to do with his relationship with Kim Kardashian. Speaking to GPBlog among other media after the race, Hamilton's former team principal attempted to explain the Briton's return to the kind of form that made him so dominant in previous years. Wolff pointed to a combination of hard work, a car that better suits Hamilton's driving style, and a strong working relationship with his race engineer. He also suggested that stability away from the racetrack and a positive environment both personally and professionally can play a major role in helping a driver perform at their best.
"Hard work, and I think this is a car that is maybe different to the previous era cars with the bouncing, with the stiffness, maybe not easy to feel. And this is back to more conventional driving in terms of, I would say at least, aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics. Obviously, the engine management is completely different, but you can see he's driving strong. The dynamics in the team look to be good between him and his race engineer.
He later pointed to Hamilton's emotional reaction on the podium as further evidence of how much the victory meant to him. Wolff suggested the Briton appears to be in a very happy place both personally and professionally, joking that his relationship with Kim Kardashian may also be playing a part. More seriously, he stressed that having stability in private life, combined with confidence and harmony within the team, can make a significant difference to a driver's performances.
"I saw him on the podium on TV. That face shows me that he's very happy. Maybe the girlfriend helps. Helped me to have a partner that... you have a stable family life and they seem to be getting on really well. I think it's all of those factors that put together the emotional, personal, and professional perspective. If they are in a good place, you win."
Hamilton's tearful Barcelona podium celebration quickly goes viral
Barcelona delivered one of the most emotional moments of Hamilton's Ferrari journey so far. After months of adaptation and near misses, the seven-time world champion finally broke through with his first victory for the Scuderia, ending a winless streak that stretched back to the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix.
The significance of the achievement was clear long before the podium celebrations began. Hamilton's voice cracked with emotion over the radio after taking the chequered flag, as he paid tribute to the team and the fans who had continued to support him throughout a challenging start to life in red.
But it was on the podium where the reality of the moment truly hit home. As the celebrations unfolded in front of the packed Barcelona crowd, Hamilton appeared overcome with emotion,
wiping away tears while soaking in a victory he had spent more than a year chasing. It was a rare and powerful sight from one of the most successful drivers in
Formula 1 history, underlining just how much this first Ferrari triumph meant to him.