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Antonelli wins inaugural Madrid GP as layout invites overtaking criticism
Kimi Antonelli claimed victory at the first Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid as strategy errors hampered Lando Norris and pre-race layout fears proved well-founded.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-09-13T15:38:45.000Z - 3 min read
Kimi Antonelli secured victory at the Spanish Grand Prix to become the first winner at Formula One's newest circuit in Madrid. In a largely processional debut for the venue around the Institución Ferial de Madrid convention centre, the Mercedes driver resisted pressure from Max Verstappen to take his eighth win of the season. Verstappen finished second for Red Bull, while Lando Norris completed the podium in third place after a frustrating afternoon.
Pre-race warnings from drivers about the circuit's layout materialised during the afternoon. The track features high-speed sections leading into angled braking zones that force drivers to brake while turning in. This design eliminates traditional out-braking opportunities and restricts the grid to a single defensive line. Verstappen had been vocal in his criticism on Saturday, pointing out that combining steering and braking prevents cars from racing side by side.
Norris initially controlled the pace after holding his pole position advantage at the start. The McLaren driver appeared comfortable until lap 14, when a virtual safety car was deployed to clear Lance Stroll's Aston Martin after a brake failure. Antonelli pitted immediately for fresh tyres, but McLaren missed the optimal window to bring Norris in. The virtual safety car ended just as the Briton reached the pit lane, resulting in a delayed seven-second stop that dropped him down the order.
Ferrari attempted an alternative strategy by leaving Charles Leclerc out on hard tyres in the hope of a full safety car. Leclerc led the majority of the race before finally making his mandatory stop on lap 48, ultimately crossing the line in fourth place. George Russell finished fifth for Mercedes, keeping himself within striking distance of the leaders despite losing further ground in the championship standings to his team-mate.
Lewis Hamilton endured a premature end to his afternoon when a brake problem forced his retirement on lap six. The issue ended the seven-time world champion's run of completing every racing lap this season and effectively neutralized his outside title aspirations. Further down the order, Liam Lawson claimed sixth for Red Bull, ahead of Franco Colapinto for Alpine and Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren.
Arvid Lindblad secured ninth position for Racing Bulls after withstanding late pressure from Nico Hulkenberg, with the Audi veteran rounding out the top ten. The lack of passing opportunities after the opening lap left the field circulating in a static formation for long stretches. While the event marked a historic milestone for Madrid's return to the calendar, the racing itself highlighted significant design limitations that drivers had anticipated all weekend.
The result extends Antonelli's advantage at the top of the standings over Russell, leaving the championship chasers with dwindling opportunities over the remaining nine rounds. Norris expressed frustration at missing out on a victory that initially seemed secure, while Verstappen managed his equipment to secure valuable points despite his pre-event misgivings about the track layout.