Home / Sports / Antonelli Wins Spanish GP Amidst Norris Pit Stop Blunder
Antonelli Wins Spanish GP Amidst Norris Pit Stop Blunder
13 Sep
Summary
- Antonelli capitalized on Norris's pit stop issues to win the Spanish Grand Prix.
- Norris rejoined fifth after a slow seven-second tire change during a VSC.
- Antonelli now leads the championship by a season-high 81 points.
Kimi Antonelli has taken a significant stride towards the 2026 world championship, clinching victory at the Spanish Grand Prix held at Madring. His win was aided by a critical pit stop error experienced by McLaren's Lando Norris.
Norris had dominated the early stages of the race after a strong pole position start. However, a lap-15 Virtual Safety Car, triggered by Lance Stroll, proved to be a turning point.
While Antonelli and Max Verstappen pitted successfully during the VSC, McLaren's timing meant Norris pitted after the VSC ended. This, compounded by a slow seven-second tire change, saw Norris rejoin the race in fifth place.
Despite his impressive pace, Norris could only recover to finish third, trailing Verstappen. Antonelli's victory further solidifies his championship lead, now 81 points ahead with nine races remaining.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton's championship aspirations appear to be over after retiring due to brake issues, leaving him 101 points behind Antonelli.
