Kimi Antonelli admitted Lando Norris deserved to win the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix after a perfectly timed Virtual Safety Car helped the Mercedes driver claim his eighth victory of the season in Madrid. The championship leader capitalised on the lap-14 neutralisation to leapfrog Norris, but acknowledged afterwards that fortune had played a decisive role in the result.
The first Spanish Grand Prix held on Madrid’s new circuit ultimately went Antonelli’s way, although this victory unfolded very differently from his previous successes. A brake problem forced Lance Stroll to retire, prompting Race Control to deploy the Virtual Safety Car at precisely the moment Norris had already passed the pit-lane entry.
Kimi Antonelli benefits from perfectly timed Madrid VSC
While Norris was committed to another lap, Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen immediately took the opportunity to enter the pits and switch to hard tyres, allowing both to complete their only stops at a significantly reduced time loss.
By the time Norris was able to pit, the McLaren driver dropped to third place, with a problem during his tyre change further complicating his situation. Charles Leclerc, who had started on the hard compound and had not yet stopped, moved into the race lead.
Norris therefore saw the victory opportunity created by his pole position disappear through the timing of the neutralisation, while Antonelli found himself in the right place at exactly the right moment.
Antonelli admits Norris deserved Spanish GP victory
Despite strengthening his position at the top of the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship, Antonelli was noticeably less enthusiastic than after his previous victories.
“It definitely wasn’t the way I would have wanted to win,” Antonelli admitted to Sky Sport F1. “I think the result I deserved today was second place. Norris deserved the victory, and I felt sorry for him.”
The Mercedes driver nevertheless praised the communication with race engineer Peter Bonnington, known as Bono, which allowed him to react instantly when the possibility of a VSC emerged.
“From our side, I think there was very good communication between me and Bono, because he had warned me about the Virtual Safety Car,” Antonelli explained. “At that moment I tried to slow down a little in the final sector to see if I could catch it just before the pit entry.”
“The timing was perfect. Obviously the wheel turns, and this time it went our way. It could happen in the next races that things go the opposite way, so you have to try to maximise every opportunity you are given and try to achieve the best result possible.”
Patience behind Charles Leclerc proves crucial
Antonelli also reflected on the final phase of the race, when he found himself running second behind Charles Leclerc. The Ferrari driver still needed to make his tyre stop, but Antonelli had to decide whether to put pressure on him or protect his own tyres.
“The final laps weren’t easy, especially all the ones behind Leclerc,” Antonelli said. “I didn’t know whether to put pressure on him or save the tyres. So it was a slightly difficult situation, but I have to say I had a lot, a lot of patience.”
“Then when he pitted, I had clear track and I was able to run at my own pace.”
The victory was Antonelli’s eighth of the season and further increased his championship advantage over George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who was also forced to retire in Madrid because of a brake problem. Mercedes therefore leaves Spain with Antonelli in an even stronger position despite the unusual circumstances surrounding his win.
Kimi Antonelli still refuses to think about the F1 title
Even with his lead growing, Antonelli continues to reject talk of the championship. The Italian has maintained that approach throughout his breakout season, despite becoming the clear reference point in the Mercedes title campaign.
“I’m still not thinking about it,” Antonelli concluded. “There are still eight or nine races, so we have to keep doing the best possible job because you never know how things can go. That’s why it’s important to always try to do our best.”
Madrid may not have delivered the victory in the manner Antonelli would have chosen, but the championship consequence is the same: another maximum-points result and a larger advantage over his closest rivals as the 2026 season enters its decisive phase.
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