Kimi Antonelli capitalized on Lando Norris’ misfortunes to secure victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in Formula 1’s comeback to Madrid on Sunday. This win marked Antonelli’s second consecutive triumph, following his impressive come-from-behind victory at the Italian GP the previous weekend.
Initially trailing in second place at the new Madring track in the Spanish capital, Antonelli saw an opportunity as pole-sitter Norris lost his lead due to a missed pit stop under a virtual safety car situation. Norris’ delayed pit stop, prompted by a questionable strategy call from McLaren, led to him dropping several positions.
Expressing gratitude for the virtual safety car, Antonelli empathized with Norris over the radio post-race, acknowledging his strong performance and urging the team to maintain their momentum. Norris ultimately finished in third place, with Max Verstappen of Red Bull claiming the second spot.
In a post-race comment, Norris conceded defeat, praising Antonelli and Verstappen for their strong race performances and highlighting the unfortunate turn of events that didn’t favor McLaren during the race.
Charles Leclerc, who had a significant lead for most of the race after opting not to pit during the virtual safety car period, finished in fourth place after being compelled to change tires towards the end.
The Spanish Grand Prix made a historic return to the Madrid region after a 45-year hiatus, with the last race taking place at the Jarama circuit on the outskirts of the capital in 1981. Antonelli’s victory marked his eighth win of the season, extending his lead over teammate George Russell to 81 points with nine races left in the season.
