Kimi Antonelli Debuts Madring Thanks to McLaren’s Strategic Harakiri and Alonso-Sainz Clash

Kimi Antonelli is the first winner in Madring’s Formula 1 history. The Italian driver has secured a victory that is less resounding than some of his predecessors, yet built on a mistake-free performance while all his rivals stumbled: a strategic mess from McLaren, a Ferrari failure, and a somewhat controversial instruction from Red Bull to Max Verstappen.

The two Spanish drivers were also contenders in the race, though not for the reasons they would have preferred. Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz collided in the early stages, leaving Alonso’s front wing damaged and earning Sainz a five-second penalty that ruined both of their races.

It has been nearly impossible to overtake in the new Madring

Kimi Antonelli has etched his name into Madring’s history forever. The Italian is the first winner of the new Spanish Grand Prix, but not in the same fashion as in other races: Antonelli simply limited himself to surviving while his rivals were eliminated one after another for no apparent reason.

The first to go was Max Verstappen, who at the start overtook Antonelli and moved into second behind Lando Norris. However, his team instructed him to let through Lewis Hamilton, who was fourth, via a maneuver that required him to cut a corner. The result is that Verstappen also let Antonelli pass, who was in between.

Then it was Hamilton’s turn to falter. His Ferrari ran out of brakes, forcing him to retire from the race. The knockout blow arrived with the virtual Safety Car triggered by Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin failure. It appeared just as Norris had already crossed the finish line, which Antonelli used to his advantage, having been more than six seconds off the pace, to make his pit stop.

The virtual safety car did not last another lap, so Norris could not capitalize. Yet McLaren made an inexplicable decision: to pit at that exact moment, which cost them positions not only to Antonelli but also to Verstappen and George Russell. And, of course, to Charles Leclerc, the driver who had led the most laps.

Leclerc was the only one of the frontrunners to stay out hoping for a second neutralization that never arrived. So Antonelli simply conserved without pushing until Leclerc pitted eight laps from the end. Antonelli took the lead and did not relinquish it, even under pressure from Verstappen, second, and a Norris who had been by far the fastest driver of the day, but could only manage third.

The McLaren strategic meltdown culminated with Oscar Piastri attempting an undercut on Liam Lawson, which left the McLaren driver not only behind the Red Bull but also overtaken by Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, who later widened in the final laps and held seventh.

The final points were distributed between rookie Arvid Lindblad, who finished ninth for Racing Bulls, and Nico Hülkenberg’s Audi, who claimed the last point thanks to a wild strategy from Pierre Gasly and Gabriel Bortoleto, who stretched their wait for another safety car, at least virtual, and paid the price.

As for the Spaniards, the situation was messy. Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz collided in a contact that left Alonso’s rear wing damaged and triggered a foul-mouthed radio exchange. Sainz, who had already plowed into Yuki Tsunoda at the start, could not avoid the penalty this time and was handed five seconds. Neither driver scored a point.

2026 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix results

Overall Formula 1 standings

1st. Kimi ANTONELLI (Mercedes-ITA), 292 points

2nd. George RUSSELL (Mercedes-GBR), 211 points

3rd. Lewis HAMILTON (Ferrari-GBR), 191 points

4th. Lando NORRIS (McLAREN-GBR), 186 points

5th. Charles LECLERC (Ferrari-MON), 167 points

Images | Haas, Mercedes