Antonelli for the Win at the Spanish Grand Prix

On September 13, the Spanish Grand Prix took place at the new Madrid circuit in Madrid, and Kimi Antonelli came out on top. The Mercedes driver started second behind Lando Norris but ended up taking first place in first, with Max Verstappen finishing second and Norris taking third. Charles Leclerc finished fourth, while George Russell completed the top five. Norris, who started from pole and led early on, could have possibly had different race results. 

However, things changed when a Virtual Safety Car came out while Norris was dealing with a pit stop. Antonelli took advantage of the timing and moved into the lead, while Norris continued to lose more positions after a slower stop. Verstappen also managed to get ahead of him, leaving Norris to finish third. Antonelli’s win was his eighth of the 2026 season and gave him an even bigger lead in the championship. The 20-year-old now leads teammate George Russell by 81 points. Mercedes also continues to lead the constructors’ championship.

In the end, not everyone had a good day. Lewis Hamilton retired because of brake problems, and Carlos Sainz also failed to finish. The new Madrid circuit was also a big topic after the race because of drivers finding overtaking difficult due to its narrow layout. Even with the limited passing, Antonelli managed to stay ahead and take the first Spanish Grand Prix victory at Madrid’s new track.

Image Courtesy of Klim Musalimov on Unsplash.