Kimi Antonelli claimed the first Formula 1 win in Madring history on Sunday (September 13), turning a Virtual Safety Car into an eighth victory of the 2026 season while Lando Norris paid for a mistimed stop.
The Mercedes driver started second on the new Madrid street circuit and finished 4.351 seconds clear of Max Verstappen, with pole-sitter Norris third a further seven-tenths back after 57 laps of the Formula 1 TAG Heuer Gran Premio de España.
Lando Norris covered the inside line at the start and built a five-second cushion by lap 10. Lewis Hamilton, who had started fourth on softs, was already in trouble. “I don’t have brakes guys,” he told Ferrari before retiring on lap seven.
The race turned on lap 13. Lance Stroll lost his Aston Martin at Turn 20 and a VSC was called. “I have a brake problem, I’ve lost brakes,” Stroll said. Antonelli, Verstappen and George Russell made the stop under the slowed field. Norris had just passed the pit entry. McLaren brought him in after the VSC ended. The stop was slow on the front-right and he rejoined fifth, more than 14 seconds behind the cars that had used the free stop.
Charles Leclerc, still on his original hard tyres, inherited the lead and held it until lap 48. Once the Ferrari came in, Antonelli was in front and stayed there.
(More to follow)
