#Antonelli captures #SpanishGP victory as @LandoNorris loses out from VSC. #F1

Antonelli Spanish GP Victory – Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli took advantage of a Virtual Safety Car free pit-stop to jump pole-sitter Lando Norris to take victory at the Spanish GP as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen held the charging McLaren at bay to finish second.

 

 

This was Antonelli’s eighth victory of the season and increased his championship lead to 81 points over team-mate George Russell in the World Driver’s Standings as the sport heads to Baku in a fortnight.

 

In the World Constructor’s Championship – Mercedes increase their gap to Ferrari by 145 points (503-358) and McLaren are a further 52 points behind the Scuderia in third. (306 for McLaren)

 

When the 57-lap Spanish GP began, pole-sitter Norris got a great start to cover off Antonelli into turn one as Hamilton attempted to dive up the inside of both drivers but was unable to do so.

 

Antonelli and Norris went wheel-to-wheel twice with the former having to give the place back to the latter – Verstappen made his way ahead of Antonelli as a result of the championship leader running wide.

 

At the beginning of the second tour – Norris held a 1.2 second lead over Verstappen with Antonelli third, Hamilton fourth, Leclerc fifth, Russell sixth, Colapinto seventh, Lawson eighth, Lindblad ninth as Piastri completed the top ten runners.

 

Piastri was 11th but he has just picked off Ocon for tenth with the former reporting he made contact with Russell at the start.

 

Lap 3 – In clean air, Norris was running well – he was leading by over two seconds from Verstappen. Antonelli was all over the Red Bull but could not find a way past.

 

There was some debris on the track from Piastri’s end-plate.

 

The fourth tour – Verstappen had just been told by his Race Engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to give the place back to Hamilton, which meant letting Antonelli through into second place too. And he was noted by Race Control for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.

 

And the Dutchman let Antonelli and Hamilton through. Verstappen was down to fourth.

 

The fourth tour – Hamilton had been on the radio reporting about a brakes failure, and he was going slowly – Verstappen and Leclerc were crawling all over him.

 

Verstappen got past easily.

 

The sixth lap – Leclerc flew past Hamilton, who was dropping back rapidly. Russell was all over him. He had been off too suffering a lock-up, and now he dropped more places, he was down to tenth, the seven-time World Champion said he had no brakes and thus could not accelerate for fear of not stopping.

 

The Ferrari driver was trying to get back to the pits.

 

The seventh tour – Antonelli had missed a corner, the Mercedes driver also struggling to slow down.

 

Hamilton was down to 19^th and doing everything he could to get back. The Briton had been given a black and white flag for track limits.

 

Hamilton had a Barcelona to remember, but Madrid has turned into a bit of a nightmare.

 

He pitted from last place to become the first retiree of the Grand Prix, after Bottas also passed his former team-mate.

 

At the beginning of the race – replays showed Norris got a really nice start and was always making the first corners, Antonelli braked too late. Further back, Russell and Piastri had a tangle after Russell came across and left the Australian nowhere to go. That lost Piastri’s end-plate.

 

Tsunoda and Sainz also made contact into Turn 1, Sainz locking up and banging wheels with his rival.

 

Lap 9 – Norris was flying out-front – he had over four seconds on Antonelli, who in turn was 5.5 seconds ahead of Verstappen.

 

Leclerc was in-front of Russell, with Colapinto up to sixth for Alpine.

 

Lawson, Lindblad, Piastri and Ocon were also in the top 10, the McLaren driver hampered by a loss of aero from his front wing damage.

 

The tenth tour – Russell was on the radio, asking about undercutting Leclerc as he believed the medium should be a robust compound. The team were considering their options.

 

On track – Lawson overtook Colapinto for sixth down at Turn 5.

 

The 11^th lap – Norris was 5.6 seconds clear of Antonelli, the clean air doing the reigning World Champion plenty of favours as Antonelli struggled more for pace. If the front runners all keep up their pace, the Safety Car windows and pit stop windows would start to appear, as no one would wants to be stuck in traffic on the twisty Madring Circuit.

 

Piastri was noted by the race stewards for a yellow flag infringement.

 

Lap 12 – Every tour, Norris pulled time on Antonelli. The mediums were working well on the McLaren, less so for Mercedes.

 

Verstappen was also losing ground to Antonelli, the four-time World Champion was 5.9 seconds behind the Italian.

 

The 13^th tour – As Race Control stated no further investigation for Piastri and those yellow flags, there was contact between home favourites Williams’ Carlos Sainz and Aston Maritn’s Fernando Alonso.

 

The two Spaniards were getting their elbows out, Alonso felt he was squeezed by his rival.

 

Lap 14 – Norris lead by 6.2 seconds, so Antonelli was out of undercut range. Verstappen was 6.2 seconds further back.

 

The yellows were out for Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll down at Turn 20 – The Canadian had come to a stop.

 

The 15^th lap – the Virtual Safety Car was deployed to remove Stroll’s AMR26 – Antonelli pitited – Norris missed it, the race leader needed to continue round and hope the VSC stays out.

 

Verstappen also stopped, so did Russell.

 

Leclerc did not pit.

 

Norris sounded like he was going to one-stop today so this could be crucial.

 

Lap 16 – Stroll’s AMR26 entry was down the escape road so that was easy to clear away. Norris did not get round in time to pit as the VSC ended.

 

Norris was only at Turn 19, and Norris did stop, he was in but under full racing conditions.

 

And it was a slow seven second stop with the Briton suffering a slow front-right tyre change. The McLaren driver fell down to fifth place behind Russell.

 

It all changed with Leclerc up into the lead with Antonelli the net leader in second place behind the Ferrari.

 

The 17^th lap – Norris lost out thanks to the VSC timing, but also the slow seven second stop did nothing to help the reigning World Champion.

 

Russell was still begging for a one-stop and explained that “Leclerc will make it to the end, easy,”

 

The 18^th tour – Leclerc was leading on his starting harder compounds.

 

The Monegasque driver was only 1.2 seconds in-front of Antonelli, who was closing fast on his harder rubber.

 

The Mercedes driver was told to “stay on top of his management,” so Mercedes were potentially hedging their bets on the harder tyre and whether it could make it to the end.

 

Lap 19 – Leclerc was leading from Antonelli and Verstappen. Russell was holding fourth in-front of Norris, Lawson, Piastri and Gasly.

 

Colapinto in tenth place had pitted, Lawson, Piastri and Gasly had not at this stage of proceedings.

 

Lap 20 – Leclerc would drop back when he pits, but he does set on for a one-stop race strategy. Antonelli could possibly one-stop on the harder tyres, but Russell could struggle to make the end on those C3 mediums after stopping earlier than planned.

 

Verstappen could make the end if degradation was lower than expected.

 

But if they all stop again, Leclerc could be right into play.

 

Sainz was given a five-second-timed-penalty for his tangle with fellow Spanish-compatriot Alonso.

 

The 22^nd tour – Perhaps knowing Leclerc would eventually pit, Antonelli had fallen back a little bit having been within a second off race leader Leclerc. The Italian was now 2.2 seconds back.

 

Verstappen was a further 6.3 seconds back in third, so his gap to Antonelli was stable through the VSC, and the Red Bull driver was lapping on the pace of the Mercedes.

 

Lap 23 – Ferrari were leading at the Madring at this stage of proceedings, Leclerc doing the business after his team-mate Hamilton retired early on with a brake failure.

 

Leclerc was on the hards and had yet to pit. Antonelli had stopped, the Italian was also on the hards and he was second on-track so would take the lead when Ferrari call the Monegasque driver in.

 

But he was not going fast, so either Antonelli was managing, or that Mercedes was struggling in the sweltering temperatures.

 

The 24^th lap – “Check the car,” cried Antonelli. The Mercedes driver was not happy and said something felt weird, the team checked the data and said it looked all okay.

 

The championship leader was dropping back; he was 3.4 second back on Leclerc. Both himself and Leclerc were clearing the back-markers so those gaps would fluctuate based on that.

 

The 25^th tour – Leclerc had still not pitted yet, no surprise given the Monegasque driver started on the hards and those were looking the good race tyre. Better than the mediums.

 

Ferrari were hanging this out potentially for a Safety Car or VSC.

 

Lap 26 – The situation was Leclerc, Lawson, Piastri, Gasly and Bortoleto were all in the top 10, all on the hards and all had yet to pit.

 

Pirelli said the hards could do 30+ laps, with one strategy having drivers switched to them on Lap 18.

 

“There’s no stopping him and Mercedes this year, they’ve done a phenomenal job and they deserve it.” Hamilton reported.

 

The 28^th lap – Mclaren’s Piastri was beginning to not enjoy himself, that front wing was still causing him some issues. The Australian wanted to know if it will be fixed when he pits – the team told him no, but they could add some downforce.

 

The McLaren driver was seventh, nearly 40 seconds off the lead having yet to stop.

 

The 29^th tour – Mercedes confirmed they were going for a two-stop for Russell. They called him in, swapped him over to the C2 harder compounds. He emerged crucially in-front of Piastri and the Mercedes driver had not lost any time fighting Norris.

 

So, Russell had stopped twice – but could Leclerc one-stop was the question?

 

Lap 30 – Leclerc remained in the lead, by nearly three seconds from Antonelli. Verstappen remained 5.6 seconds off in third place, with Norris holding fourth. The big question was who is one-stopping and who like Russell needed a second stop.

 

Norris in fourth place was flying in some clean air, and he would catch Verstappen at the rate he was going.

 

The 31^st tour – Leclerc was well past halfway, but how long could he make those hard tyres he started on last was the question? He was hoping for that VSC or similar, to gain a cheap pit stop which would catapult the Ferrari driver into the mix for a podium.

 

Leclerc’s pace remained solid, he was lapping two-tenths slower than Antonelli’s Mercedes.

 

Lap 32 – Russell had pitted twice, Lawson not at all. The pairing were separated by 2.6 seconds, the Mercedes driver rapidly gaining on the Red Bull.

 

They were battling for fifth place, but so much was going to depend on strategy. Mercedes had gambled on a two-stop strategy for Russell, with many looking nailed on for a one-stopper.

 

The 33^rd lap – Cadillac’s Sergio Perez had just been called in to the retire the car becoming the third retiree of the race.

 

The 34^th tour – Leclerc remained in the lead, by 3.1 seconds and he was lapping around the same time as Antonelli at this stage of proceedings.

 

Verstappen was a stable third place, Norris fourth and Lawson fifth.

 

Of those, Leclerc and Lawson were still yet-to-pit.

 

When they would, was unknown – the hard tyre was not degrading as much as most expected.

 

Lap 35 – “The hard tyre looks robust, so if you have some pace, we think we should use it,” McLaren reported to Norris.

 

That was the code for – you can push, the tyre can take it on.

 

And the reigning World Champion immediately posted the new fastest lap time. The Briton was fourth, having led the early stages. Bad VSC timing and a slow pit-stop had costed him the win, unless it all swapped around.

 

The 36^th lap – Russell squeezed past at Turn 7, with Lawson making a mistake and Russell capitalised. The Mercedes driver was up to fifth place.

 

Replays showed Lawson just ran deep at the chicane on his older rubber, gifting Russell an open track to slot into the position.

 

Lap 37 – “Why did we pit? I could have held Norris off,” asked Russell. His Mercedes team-mate Antonelli having stopped once remained second.

 

With 20 laps remaining – The situation was Leclerc’s lead was at 2.6 seconds from Antonelli. Norris was chasing down Verstappen for third place; the duo was just 3.5 seconds apart.

 

Russell was fifth but he was way back – 30 seconds down.

 

Lawson was being caught by Piastri in sixth place, those two were yet-to-pit.

 

Gasly, Bortoleto and Colapinto completed the top ten.

 

Lap 39 – Norris tapped the wall but continued.

 

Meanwhile, Leclerc asked what the situation was. The Monegasque driver was told they were staying out for a Safety Car – at the moment he had a window to Norris if a Safety Car was deployed, if he pitted under racing conditions, he would come out in fourth place behind the McLaren.

 

The 40^th tour – Leclerc was not the only driver holding on for a Safety Car, Gasly, Lawson, Bortoleto and Piastri were doing the same.

 

At Lap 40, it was clear these hards could pretty much last the distance, making Mercedes’ decision to pit Russell even more confusing.

 

The 41^st lap – Despite that scary moment with the barriers, Norris was still catching Verstappen – just 1.5 seconds between the two in the battle for the final podium place, which could be second soon.

 

They were catching Antonelli too, he was only 3.9 seconds in-front of the Red Bull.

 

Lap 43 – Norris was within a second of Verstappen in the battle for the final podium place. Further back, Piastri finally pitted from sixth for a fresh set of the C3 medium rubber and the Australian emerged in 11^th place behind Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad.

 

The 44^th tour – Piastri’s stop was a tad slow as they had to tweak his front wing, and the Australian was behind Lindblad in 11^th. But a few in-front still needed to pit. But could he make the most of the undercut given he was in traffic was the question?

 

Not ideal, as Lawson was told to push.

 

The 45^th lap – Race leader Leclerc was still yet-to-pit, the Ferrari driver was just 1.9 seconds ahead of Antonelli. Verstappen was 3.7 seconds further back and had Norris right on his tail.

 

Lawson was told to box, as Piastri overtook Lindblad. That was a bold move down into the first corner.

 

Lap 46 – The traffic costed Piastri as Lawson did come out ahead of the McLaren. The Australian not having a great day, as he watched Colapinto and Bortoleto battle in-front.

 

Sainz was told to retire becoming the fourth casualty, after a really tough home race in Madrid.

 

The 47^th tour – Leclerc still had not pitted and remained in the lead. Gasly in sixth place also had not stopped, nor had Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto in eighth who had just been involved in a wheel-to-wheel battle with Colapinto and Piastri.

 

All Leclerc needed was a brief well-timed VSC for some debris, a bit of end-plate or anything would do. It would not give him the win, but it could give the Ferrari driver half-a-chance for a podium.

 

Leclerc finally pitted on lap 49 freeing Antonelli – the Ferrari driver put on the C4 red-marked softer compounds and came out in fourth place behind Norris and ahead of Russell.

 

Antonelli now lead from Verstappen and Norris. Just 1.8 seconds between the trio.

 

The 51^st lap – Gasly in sixth place still had yet-to-stop, so Alpine were leaving it late and hoping for a miracle. Good points were coming for Colapinto for Alpine regardless.

 

The gaps out-front remained as it was, Antonelli pulling a few tenths out on Verstappen for more of a comfort zone.

 

Lap 52 – Antonelli had gained a few more tenths, so the Italian was suddenly looking a bit more comfortable. The Mercedes driver had 2.1 seconds on Verstappen, as he was on course towards an eighth victory of the season.

 

Norris was not giving up on second place; he had a fast MCL40 and he was within-a-second of the Red Bull.

 

The 53^rd tour – “I touched the wall, Turn 7,” reported Antonelli.

 

That was not what Mercedes wanted to hear. The Italian’s tyres were 37 laps old, but Leclerc showed the harder compounds will hang on longer than that.

 

He just needed to keep it clean until the end.

 

Lap 54 – Antonelli lead increased to 2.6 seconds, Verstappen in defence mode rather than attack. The Dutchman still had Norris right behind for company, the McLaren driver with Overtake Mode in his hands.

 

Leclerc was holding fourth, Russell fifth and Gasly yet-to-pit from sixth.

 

The 55^th lap – Norris locked up and run across the apex – that had costed him a few tenths, and he was now out of the one second window.

 

The penultimate tour – This race did not have the Safety Cars and red flags many predicted, with Antonelli leading for Mercedes and from Verstappen and Norris.

 

Norris was leading early on, but his race was undone by the virtual safety car timing and also suffered a slow pit stop.

 

Norris and Verstappen were passing backmarkers, who ran-off the track, and Norris was right behind Verstappen as a result.

 

Antonelli crossed the line to take victory by 4.351 seconds over Verstappen who held Norris by a narrow 0.738 seconds to finish in the runner up place.

 

Leclerc in the sole-running-Ferrari was fourth and ahead of Russell who came fifth.

 

Alpine’s Gasly was given a penalty and demoted to 13^th for not pitting and promoted the other Red Bull of Lawson to sixth.

 

The second Alpine A526 entry of Colapinto took seventh and in-front of Piastri who settled for eighth.

 

Lindblad and Hulkenberg completed the top ten.

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2026 Spanish GP – The Top Three

 

 

2026 Spanish GP Winner – Andrea Kimi Antonelli, #12, Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team, F1 W17 – (25 Points):

“It was a very difficult race, not straightforward at all, especially trying to manage tyres. It is good to win, but it doesn’t feel as good as I think Lando deserved to win. But we’ll take it, and we’ll keep pushing.”

 

2^nd Place – Max Verstappen, #3, Oracle Red Bull Racing, RBPT-Ford, RB22 – +4.351s – (18 Points):

“Looking at the race pace, for us a great result. We know Lando got unlucky with the VSC. P2 is a great result as you saw how much Lando was catching me. Just keep the car in the middle, that works quite well around here.”

 

3^rd Place – Lando Norris, #4, McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team, Mercedes, MCL40 – +5.089s – (15 Points):

“The VSC was after, there was nothing I could do. Congrats to Kimi and Max, they drove a great race today, Luck not on our side. I gave it a go to try and catch up. A tough race, just got away from us. I felt we deserved it but we’ll take it on the chin. I do feel I am working hard and I’m getting a lot out of the car. I felt I drove a perfect race today, just luck wasn’t with me.”

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Formula 1 Tag Heuer Gran Premio De Espana 2026 Race Results Classification (57 Laps)

 

FORMULA 1 TAG HEUER GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2026 – RACE RESULT

 

Click here for the 2026 Formula 1 World Driver’s (Top 10) and Constructor’s Championship Standings

 

Round 15 of the 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship returns to the Baku City Circuit in Baku, Azerbaijan for the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2026 from Thursday September 24-Saturday September 26.