Antonelli wins Spanish GP as VSC drama reshuffles Madring race
NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 13, 2026
Antonelli wins Spanish GP
Kimi Antonelli won the Spanish Grand Prix for Mercedes at the new Madring, the first Spanish Grand Prix held there. He took control of the race after a lap 15 Virtual Safety Car changed the picture at the front. Lance Stroll stopped in a run-off area, and the caution let Antonelli and Max Verstappen pit and save time. Lando Norris had started from pole and led early, but he had already passed the pit-lane entry when McLaren could not bring him in right away. That left Norris exposed to a slower stop later, and the delay hurt his chances. Antonelli kept his momentum after that opening phase and later inherited control when Charles Leclerc pitted on lap 48. From there, he stayed out front and closed the job. The result marked Antonelli’s eighth win of the season and stretched his Drivers’ Championship lead to 81 points. It was a direct reward for keeping his race clean when the timing changed around him and for capitalizing when the Virtual Safety Car gave him a clear path through the pit cycle.
Norris loses time
Norris had the speed to stay in the fight, but the race turned against him after the pit-lane moment. He came in behind the VSC sequence instead of with Antonelli and Verstappen, and the slow McLaren pit stop dropped him back in the field. Norris recovered from there and finished third, but he never fully got back to the front-running position he held early. Verstappen stayed in contention through the strategic shuffle and finished second. Leclerc took fourth and George Russell finished fifth. The order at the front reflected how one caution and one slow stop moved several drivers into and out of the lead group. Antonelli gained the most from that swing, while Norris had to spend the rest of the afternoon repairing the damage from the lost pit window. The final result left Antonelli ahead of Verstappen and Norris, with the early pace from pole no longer enough to secure the win for McLaren.
Race finishers and retirements
The rest of the points paid out behind the top five with Liam Lawson finishing sixth, followed by Franco Colapinto, Oscar Piastri, Arvid Lindblad and Nico Hulkenberg. The race also produced several retirements. Lewis Hamilton retired early because of brake problems. Carlos Sainz, Sergio Perez and Stroll also retired. That trimmed the field and added another layer to a race already shaped by timing, pit work and the lap 15 caution. By the finish, the running order told the story clearly.
