Antonelli Dominates Spanish GP! Extends F1 Lead, Norris Unlucky

Kimi Antonelli, the 20-year-old racing sensation, clinched his eighth Formula 1 Grand Prix victory of the season at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, September 13, 2026. This win marks his second consecutive triumph, further solidifying his lead in the drivers' standings by a substantial 81 points over Mercedes teammate George Russell.

Antonelli finished a strong 4.351 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen, with Lando Norris securing third place. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and George Russell rounded out the top five in a race filled with strategic plays and unexpected turns at the new Madring circuit in Madrid.

The race took a dramatic turn on Lap 14 when Aston Martin's Lance Stroll encountered a braking issue, bringing out the virtual safety car (VSC). At this crucial moment, Norris, who held a comfortable 6.2-second lead, had just passed the pit lane entry. Antonelli, Russell, and Verstappen capitalized on the VSC to pit, while Norris had to wait until the next lap.

By then, the VSC period had ended, and a relatively slow seven-second pit stop saw Norris rejoin the race in fifth place.

Charles Leclerc then led for 30 laps on hard tires, with Ferrari attempting a gamble to wait for another VSC that never came.

He eventually pitted on Lap 49, falling to fourth.

Max Verstappen briefly took the lead, but a brake lock-up on Lap 55 dashed his hopes for the top spot.

Despite the win, Antonelli expressed mixed feelings, acknowledging Norris's strong performance: “It was a very difficult race, not straightforward at all, especially trying to manage tires. It's good to win, but it doesn't feel as good because I think Lando today deserved to win. But overall, you know, we'll take it.

Other than that, it was a very strong race.”

The day was also tough for Lewis Hamilton, who had to retire on Lap 9 due to brake issues, leaving him 101 points behind Antonelli in the standings. Mercedes continued its dominant run, extending its lead in the team standings over Ferrari to 145 points, now boasting 503 total. Hamilton conceded, “There's no stopping him or Mercedes this year.

They've done a phenomenal job, and they deserve it.”

This year's Spanish Grand Prix marked its return to the F1 calendar after a 40-year absence, adding an extra layer of significance to Antonelli’s victory. The season continues with nine races remaining, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix up next on September 26.

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