Kimi Antonelli wins Spanish Grand Prix as Lando Norris loses lead after VSC pit stop

Kimi Antonelli claimed victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, the first Formula 1 race at the new Madring circuit, after Lando Norris, who had led early, dropped to fifth following a pit stop under a virtual safety car (VSC). Norris had built a five-second lead by lap 10, but a VSC triggered by Lance Stroll’s brake failure forced several drivers to pit. Norris elected to pit as the VSC ended, suffered a slow stop and rejoined the race far behind the leaders.

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, who started on the softer tyre compound, were involved in early corner incidents, with Verstappen later yielding to Antonelli and Hamilton after a brief dispute over evasive manoeuvres. Hamilton retired on lap 6 after brake problems. Antonelli, who started alongside Norris on medium tyres, maintained a consistent pace and took the lead after the pit-stop shuffle.

"I didn’t touch the wall, but the steering feels weird," Antonelli told his engineers after noting a handling issue on lap 21.

Mercedes driver George Russell, who switched from hard to medium tyres early, later questioned his own strategy, saying:

"Why did we pit? I think we could have held Norris off."

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc delayed his pit stop hoping for another safety-car period that never materialised, losing time and finishing fourth. The race concluded with a close three-way battle among Antonelli, Verstappen and Norris, but no decisive overtakes occurred in the final laps. Antonelli pulled away to secure his eighth win of the season, followed by Verstappen in second and Norris in third.

Other notable results included Pierre Gasly’s long stint on hard tyres to finish seventh, Franco Colapinto in eighth, and Oscar Piastri in ninth despite front-wing damage at the start. Retirements were recorded for Hamilton, Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll and others.