Kimi Antonelli continues his winning streak, taking to the top of the podium at Madrid’s first Grand Prix.
Fresh from his remarkable victory at Monza, the Mercedes driver made it back-to-back wins with another impressive performance, beating Max Verstappen and Lando Norris to claim his eighth victory of the 2026 season. This time, however, Antonelli had a little help from strategy.
Lando Norris started from pole and initially looked to have the race under control. Antonelli challenged the McLaren driver several times during the opening laps, twice running off the circuit in his attempts to get past, before settling into second place.
Norris gradually stretched his advantage to more than four seconds, but the complexion of the race changed when Lance Stroll stopped on track and triggered a Virtual Safety Car.
Mercedes immediately called Antonelli into the pits, allowing him to make his stop while the field was travelling at reduced speed. Norris wasn’t as fortunate. The Virtual Safety Car ended before he could pit, and a slow seven-second tyre change once racing resumed dropped him behind Antonelli, Verstappen, and George Russell.
Charles Leclerc then became the unlikely race leader, with Ferrari keeping him out in the hope that another Safety Car or red flag might give them an opportunity.
Behind him, Antonelli controlled his position despite reporting an unusual feeling through the steering wheel, while Verstappen and Norris battled for the places behind.
Leclerc eventually abandoned his strategy and pitted at the end of Lap 48, handing the lead back to Antonelli and setting up a final fight to the finish. But the Italian wasn’t going to give his rivals an opportunity.
While Norris put pressure on Verstappen for second, Antonelli pulled away at the front and crossed the line 4.351 seconds clear of the Red Bull, with Norris less than a second further back in third. Despite celebrating another victory, Antonelli acknowledged afterwards that circumstances had worked in his favour.
“It’s good to win, but it doesn’t feel as good because I think Lando today deserved to win.”
Nevertheless, it was another significant result for the 20-year-old. After becoming the first Italian in 60 years to win his home Grand Prix at Monza just seven days earlier, Antonelli has now become the first Formula 1 driver to win at Madrid’s new Madring circuit.
More importantly, victory number eight has extended his advantage in the Drivers’ Championship to 81 points over teammate George Russell, who finished fifth.
Antonelli’s incredible run of form continues, and with his championship lead growing, the young Italian is putting himself in an increasingly strong position to claim his first Formula 1 world title.
