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via Crash'Racing gods were with us' - Toto Wolff concedes fortunate Madrid F1 winKimi Antonelli claimed victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, benefiting from a timely virtual safety car that allowed him to close the gap on race leader Lando Norris. The VSC was deployed to recover Lance Stroll's car, which had become stranded, and it significantly altered the race dynamics, enabling Antonelli to pit while Norris lost crucial time. This win marks Antonelli's eighth career victory and extends his championship lead to 81 points.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff expressed his appreciation for the team's strategy and Antonelli's driving under pressure. He noted that the timing of the virtual safety car was fortunate for them, contrasting it with previous races where they faced bad luck. Despite the pressure, Antonelli has maintained a cool demeanor, which Wolff believes is key to his success as the season progresses.
via RacingNews365Max Verstappen issues comical response to successful Lando Norris defenceMax Verstappen achieved a surprising second-place finish at the Spanish Grand Prix, having started from third. His race included an early incident where he passed both Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli but was instructed by Red Bull to give those positions back. After Hamilton's retirement, Verstappen regained third place and eventually moved up to second when Lando Norris was unable to pit during a virtual safety car period.
In the final laps, Norris closed in on Verstappen but could not overtake due to the track's layout, which Verstappen criticized for lacking overtaking opportunities. Verstappen humorously explained his defense strategy, emphasizing the importance of positioning his car effectively to maintain grip and fend off Norris's advances.
via RaceFansVideo: “I just did a race, I’m allowed to drink what I like” | BriefAt the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix, Lando Norris faced a comment regarding his choice of beverage, which was deemed unapproved. He responded in a polite yet firm manner, highlighting the pressures and scrutiny drivers face even off the track.
The race saw Antonelli emerge victorious, capitalizing on a pit stop mishap for Norris during a Virtual Safety Car period. Additionally, Verstappen voiced his displeasure after being instructed to allow Hamilton to overtake, showcasing the competitive tensions that can arise during such high-stakes events.Charles LECLERC leads the Race at MadringCharles LECLERC takes the lead from Lando NORRIS — live from Madring, Spain.
via espn.comSpanish Grand Prix LIVE! Latest updates as Norris starts on pole from Antonelli, VerstappenLando Norris achieved pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix, edging out Kimi Antonelli by a mere 0.011 seconds. Norris expressed surprise at his performance, calling it one of the best laps of his career. Max Verstappen will start in third place, while Carlos Sainz faces a setback with a three-place grid penalty, placing him at the back of the grid in 20th position.
The Madring circuit has garnered attention for its challenging layout, with drivers voicing concerns about overtaking opportunities. Verstappen noted the difficulty of passing on the track, emphasizing that drivers may need to rely on tire degradation to gain positions during the race.Lando NORRIS leads the Race at MadringLando NORRIS takes the lead from Kimi ANTONELLI — live from Madring, Spain.
via RacingNews365Kimi Antonelli hopeful of solution after painful Madring experienceKimi Antonelli is optimistic about finding a solution to avoid a repeat of his challenging practice experience at the Madring ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix. He qualified second, narrowly missing pole position to Lando Norris, and is aware of the difficulties in overtaking on the circuit, particularly due to tire degradation.
Antonelli believes that managing tire life will be crucial during the race, as he anticipates potential multiple pit stops. He plans to apply pressure on the car ahead to force mistakes, highlighting the strategic aspect of the race in addition to raw speed.
via Motorsport WeekSergio Perez offers hilarious response to Kimi Antonelli radio feudSergio Perez responded humorously to criticism from Kimi Antonelli, who was frustrated after being held up by Perez during the second practice session at the Madring. Antonelli expressed his annoyance over the radio, but Perez joked that Antonelli might have been confused about the driver he was complaining about.
Despite the traffic challenges at the new Spanish GP track, Perez remained positive, calling it a "really cool track." However, he faced penalties for speeding in the pitlane and qualified nineteenth, contrasting with Antonelli's second-place qualifying position. Cadillac, Perez's team, has yet to score any points in the 2026 season.
via Motorsport.comVerstappen seeks overtaking strategies for Spanish GPMax Verstappen acknowledges the difficulty of overtaking at the Spanish Grand Prix. After qualifying third, he emphasizes the need to identify potential overtaking spots to compete with Lando Norris for the win.
via f1oversteer.comLando Norris Outperforming Oscar Piastri in 2026 SeasonRalf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya have commented on Lando Norris's performance relative to teammate Oscar Piastri at McLaren in 2026. Both analysts suggest that Norris's skills are highlighting Piastri's struggles in comparison.
via Motorsport WeekPierre Gasly stumped by sudden pace loss after Q2 exit in MadridPierre Gasly experienced a surprising decline in performance during the qualifying session for the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, resulting in his elimination in Q2 and a 14th place starting position. He was perplexed by the drastic change in the car's behavior compared to earlier in the weekend, indicating that he felt comfortable with the car's balance prior to qualifying.
Gasly plans to work with his team to investigate the issues that led to the loss of grip and performance. He expressed skepticism about his chances in the upcoming race, suggesting that he might need to take risks to improve his situation. Despite the overall improvement in track conditions, he remains uncertain about the car's competitiveness in the high-speed sections of the circuit.
via Formula1.comNorris in title fight 'until it's not possible' – BrownLando Norris achieved pole position for the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring, surprising himself after a challenging practice session due to a gearbox issue. McLaren's team principal, Zak Brown, remains optimistic about Norris's chances in the drivers' title race, emphasizing that anything is possible despite the significant points gap to the leader, Kimi Antonelli.
Brown highlighted the unpredictability of the new power units and the potential for strategy to play a crucial role in the upcoming race. He expressed pride in the team's ability to improve the car's performance over the weekend and acknowledged the competitive nature of the championship, with both Norris and Antonelli vying for victories.
via RacingNews365Lando Norris calls for changes to improve Madring circuitLando Norris has expressed his views on the Madring circuit, suggesting that it requires 'easy changes' to enhance its racing potential. He emphasized the significant investment made in the track and the need for adjustments to improve the experience for teams and drivers.
via Motorsport WeekKimi Antonelli says overtaking at Spanish GP will be “very difficult”Kimi Antonelli, who qualified second for the Spanish Grand Prix, expressed concerns about the difficulty of overtaking on the newly constructed Madring circuit. He highlighted that the start of the race would be crucial for gaining positions, as the tight track limits overtaking opportunities. Antonelli narrowly missed pole position to Lando Norris and noted that similar pace among drivers would make overtaking even more challenging.
Antonelli, currently leading the Driver's Championship, mentioned that the track's characteristics remind him of other challenging circuits like Monaco and Jeddah. He indicated that strategy might play a significant role in the race, as drivers would need to capitalize on mistakes from others to create overtaking chances. His teammate, George Russell, qualified sixth, presenting a significant challenge for him to close the gap in the championship standings.
via CrashJose Mourinho praises "incredible" Kimi Antonelli and Fernando AlonsoJose Mourinho has publicly praised Kimi Antonelli for his impressive performance in the Formula 1 season, calling his title pursuit 'incredible'. Antonelli currently leads the standings by 66 points over his teammate George Russell, having qualified second for the upcoming race in Madrid. Mourinho's admiration extends to veteran driver Fernando Alonso, whom he appreciates for his consistent presence among the top drivers despite not having a competitive car this season.
In addition to his praise for Antonelli and Alonso, Mourinho acknowledged the involvement of FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem in discussions about Alonso's future in the sport. Alonso has yet to confirm his commitment to Aston Martin or the championship, and the FIA is exploring ways to encourage him to remain in Formula 1. Mourinho expressed his fondness for the sport and the drivers, while also being mindful of the hospitality he receives from the F1 community.
via RacingNews365George Russell reveals reason behind wait for Mercedes F1 engine penaltyGeorge Russell has decided to postpone his engine penalty until the upcoming triple-header in the Americas, despite his teammate Kimi Antonelli opting to take his penalty at Monza. Russell's strategy is influenced by Mercedes' plan to introduce a new internal combustion engine specification, which he aims to coincide with his penalty to avoid incurring multiple penalties for component changes.
Russell's current engine issues have forced him to exceed the standard allocation of components, leading to the need for a penalty. While Antonelli successfully recovered from a grid penalty to win at Monza, Russell believes that waiting for the upgrade will ultimately be more beneficial, as taking the penalty now would only lead to another penalty when the new components are introduced.
via f1technical.netPiastri reveals why he "didn’t have that last bit we needed in the last run"Oscar Piastri expressed disappointment after qualifying seventh for the Spanish Grand Prix, despite McLaren showing competitive pace with Lando Norris achieving pole position. Piastri's performance was hindered by a cautious qualifying strategy that required him to use two sets of soft tyres in Q2, leaving him with only one fresh set for Q3, which affected his final lap performance.
Piastri acknowledged that while the team made improvements throughout the qualifying sessions, he lacked the final pace needed to challenge for a higher position. He emphasized the importance of strategy for the race, given the expected difficulty in overtaking and uncertainties regarding tyre degradation after practice sessions.
via f1technical.netNorris opens up why he does not have a delta on his streering wheelLando Norris achieved pole position at the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix, showcasing a remarkable final lap that saw him improve his time by seven and a half tenths. Despite missing a practice session, he quickly adapted during qualifying and outperformed his teammate Oscar Piastri, who faced challenges in Q2 and Q3 due to tire strategy decisions.
Norris's performance was notable as his car lacked a traditional delta time display, forcing him to rely on his instincts and car sensations to gauge his performance. The new Madring circuit presented additional challenges with evolving grip levels, but Norris managed to find the right balance and timing to secure his third pole of the season.
via f1technical.netRussell opens up on why he was unable to match Antonelli's speed in Madrid qualifyingKimi Antonelli narrowly lost pole position to Lando Norris by just 0.011 seconds during the qualifying session for the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring. Antonelli had shown strong pace throughout the day, including topping the final practice session, and will start the race from second on the grid, which he believes offers a good opportunity despite the challenges of overtaking on the new circuit.
George Russell, on the other hand, faced a frustrating qualifying session. After being the fastest in Q1, he struggled with understeer in Q3, which hindered his performance and resulted in a sixth-place finish. Russell remains optimistic about the race, citing potential opportunities to recover positions due to expected high tyre degradation.
via f1technical.netAlpine reflect on their contrasting fortunes in Madrid after Monza pole shockAlpine faced contrasting results in the qualifying session for the Spanish Grand Prix, with Franco Colapinto achieving a commendable ninth place while Pierre Gasly struggled to secure fourteenth. Colapinto's performance was a notable turnaround from his teammate's recent pole position at Monza, showcasing his ability to handle pressure and adapt to the new Madring circuit. Gasly, on the other hand, encountered grip issues and crashed during Q2, which hindered his chances of a top-ten start.
Despite the mixed outcomes, both drivers and Alpine's management expressed optimism for the race. Colapinto acknowledged the challenges of overtaking at the new track and emphasized the importance of executing their strategy effectively. Gasly, while disappointed with his qualifying result, pointed to promising long-run performance in practice as a reason for hope. The team is focused on understanding the discrepancies in performance and aims to maximize their chances for points in the upcoming race.Page 15 of 45