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Antonelli wins first Madrid Grand Prix as lack of overtakes forces Madring rethink

Luiza MoraesPublished 5d ago2 min readBased on 14 sources
Antonelli wins first Madrid Grand Prix as lack of overtakes forces Madring rethink
source:formula1.com

Kimi Antonelli won the first Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid's Madring, beating Max Verstappen and Lando Norris in a 57-lap race that produced fewer than 10 overtakes.

The Mercedes driver crossed the line ahead of Verstappen in second and Norris in third to claim his eighth Grand Prix win of the 2026 season, Formula 1 reported. George Russell, his Mercedes teammate, finished fifth.

It started lively. Norris, Antonelli and Verstappen fought three-wide for the lead off the start, Formula 1 showed. Norris then looked set for victory before a Virtual Safety Car period, a speed-controlled neutralisation where drivers must slow rather than race, handed the advantage to Antonelli.

Antonelli said afterwards the win "doesn't feel as good" because Norris deserved to take it, Formula 1 reported.

For fans, this means the title maths is stretching. Antonelli now leads Russell by 81 points after Madrid, The Guardian reported.

The talking point after the flag was not the result but the racing. The Madring, a hybrid of public roads and purpose-built track in north-east Madrid around a conference centre, became the 81st circuit to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix when it staged the 11-13 September weekend. The lack of overtaking defined the race.

Verstappen had warned before the start that his chance of passing was almost nil, Reuters reported. Drivers later described the track as "not good for racing".

Discussions are now under way to change the layout. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said talks with the circuit chief executive and the FIA had already taken place before the race, The Guardian reported.

The circuit was designed by Italian Jarno Zaffelli and built at a reported cost of about £71 million. Race organisers reported 352,000 fans across the weekend.

What makes this stand out is the contrast. A packed new venue and a first-time winner's storybook setting, but a procession on track. The next test is whether a revised layout can keep the crowd and improve the racing.

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