Lewis Hamilton's hopes of winning the 2026 F1 championship appear virtually over after an early retirement on Lap 7 of the Spanish GP.
From fourth on the grid, Hamilton battled with Red Bull's Max Verstappen on the opening lap, but after being waved passed after the Dutchman was told to give the place back, Hamilton's Ferrari started to develop brake problems.
He first cut the Turns 5 and 6 chicane, before then locking up and going off at Turn 20, and dropping down the order.
He reported in that he had "no brakes" and retired on Lap 7 of 57.
Hamilton now loses his record as the only driver to complete every race and Sprint lap in 2026, and it is his first brake-related DNF since the 2014 Canadian Grand Prix for Mercedes.
He was 76 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli heading into the race, with the Italian currently running second, worth 18 points, behind race leader Lando Norris, with Verstappen third, the sole remaining Ferrari of Charles Leclerc in fourth, and George Russell in fifth.
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