Leclerc’s Ferrari Strategy Backfires in Madrid GP as Antonelli Wins
NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 13, 2026
Ferrari strategy
Ferrari kept Charles Leclerc on track during the Virtual Safety Car, hoping a late neutralization would give him a chance to fight for the win. The gamble held until it did not. With no late neutralization appearing, Ferrari pulled Leclerc in on Lap 48 as George Russell closed the gap, and the stop left him to finish fourth at the Madring. He spent nearly 50 laps on hard tires and crossed the line 29.116 seconds behind Kimi Antonelli, just ahead of Russell. Leclerc also inherited the lead after Lewis Hamilton retired, then held it for 32 of 57 laps before the strategy call cost him ground. Fred Vasseur said Ferrari had the pace to win the Spanish Grand Prix and that Leclerc’s pace was more than good. He added that a late red flag or Safety Car could have put Leclerc in position to win or at least finish on the podium. Leclerc backed the decision and said Ferrari did the right thing with its strategy. He said he would make the same call again.
Leclerc pace
Leclerc’s race came down to how long Ferrari could stretch the opening plan and how much track position the team could protect. Ferrari had hoped for a favorable late caution, but that plan never developed. The long stint on hard tires forced Leclerc to defend his result without the kind of late-race protection teams look for when they gamble on a Safety Car. Leclerc said Ferrari is losing results because of poor Saturday qualifying and said the team needs to improve in qualifying, especially at tracks where overtaking is difficult. That point matched the shape of his afternoon. He had race pace, but he still had to rely on strategy and race interruptions to turn that speed into a stronger finish.
Hamilton retirement
Hamilton’s race ended on Lap 7 with a brake problem, and the retirement gave Ferrari the lead through Leclerc. It also marked Hamilton’s first DNF of the season. Before he stopped, Hamilton briefly challenged Max Verstappen for third, a short burst that hinted at another front-running fight before the brake issue forced him out. His exit changed the shape of the race at the front and opened the door for Ferrari to keep Leclerc out longer while they searched for a late neutralization. That opening helped Leclerc control much of the race, but it did not deliver the payoff Ferrari wanted. The team scored 12 points in Madrid and fell further behind Mercedes in the constructors’ standings after the race.
