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Antonelli Wins Historic Madrid Grand Prix After Norris VSC Blow
Kimi Antonelli claimed victory at the first-ever Formula 1 race in Madrid after Lando Norris lost a likely win due to pit stop timing.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-09-15T02:29:52.000Z - 3 min read
Kimi Antonelli triumphed in the first-ever Formula 1 race held in Madrid, securing victory after pole-sitter Lando Norris saw a comfortable lead vanish due to an unfortunate virtual safety car period. Norris had led cleanly from the start and appeared firmly in control of the race until Lance Stroll brought his Aston Martin to a halt in the run-off area at Turn 20. That incident triggered the crucial neutralisation phase, catching the McLaren driver just after he had passed the pit entry.
While Norris was forced to complete another full lap before serving his stop, his rivals capitalized immediately. Antonelli, Max Verstappen and George Russell dived into the pit lane under virtual safety conditions, emerging ahead of the McLaren. Compounding the issue for the British driver, a sluggish seven-second service dropped him further down the order. Charles Leclerc briefly assumed the lead by staying out on hard tyres before finally pitting on lap 48, clearing the path for Antonelli to seize the front spot and hold it to the checkered flag.
Max Verstappen fought through a chaotic afternoon to finish second, though not without venting his frustration over team orders early in the race. Having slipped past Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap, Verstappen was ordered by Red Bull to cede a position back to Hamilton after cutting a chicane to avoid the Ferrari. Verstappen did not hide his anger over the radio, branding the instruction as Mickey Mouse racing. Hamilton's race ended prematurely soon after due to brake issues, removing the seven-time world champion from the leading group.
Lando Norris salvaged a podium finish in third place, managing a late-race charge past the traffic in the closing stages. The McLaren driver pressed Verstappen hard on the penultimate lap while lapping a fierce midfield scrap between Arvid Lindblad and Nico Hulkenberg. Verstappen cut a chicane during the defensive maneuvering, though stewards quickly dismissed the incident as requiring no further investigation. Charles Leclerc crossed the line fourth for Ferrari after missing out on the safety car intervention his team had hoped for.
George Russell finished fifth after a strategy adjustment that saw him stop a second time, losing the track position he had initially gained during the virtual safety car pit phase. Stand-in driver Liam Lawson recorded his strongest result for Red Bull yet by taking sixth place. Further down the order, Franco Colapinto delivered a stellar performance to win the midfield battle for Alpine, finishing seventh and beating Oscar Piastri. Rookie Arvid Lindblad secured ninth for Racing Bulls following a tight duel with Hulkenberg's Audi.
The eventful afternoon also brought disappointment for several notable names on the grid. Local hero Carlos Sainz retired from his home race after picking up a five-second time penalty for an on-track clash with compatriot Fernando Alonso. Sergio Perez also failed to finish in his Cadillac, joining Sainz, Stroll and Hamilton on the list of retirements. The historic first weekend at the Madrid circuit ultimately belonged to Mercedes and Antonelli, who navigated the chaotic strategy swings to extend his championship momentum.