Kimi Antonelli strengthened his grip on the 2026 F1 drivers' championship by becoming the first winner of the Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring. The Mercedes driver converted second on the grid into his eighth victory of the season, while Max Verstappen finished second and Lando Norris completed the podium after a disastrous Virtual Safety Car (VSC) pit-stop sequence cost him a likely win.
Norris had looked in control after taking pole by just 0.011 seconds from Antonelli, but the timing of his stop under the VSC turned the race on its head and left him fighting back from a significant deficit. The Madring itself became a major talking point, with limited overtaking opportunities and a race that settled into a largely processional rhythm once the strategic dust had settled.
Away from the podium, Liam Lawson produced a landmark result for New Zealand by finishing sixth, while Lewis Hamilton retired with brake problems and Carlos Sainz was among the other notable non-finishers. With Antonelli extending his championship advantage to 81 points over Mercedes team-mate George Russell, the international media had plenty to discuss after F1's first visit to Madrid.
The Telegraph delivered a scathing assessment, arguing the new Madrid venue failed to live up to the promise surrounding its arrival. Rather than hard-fought action, the race was characterized by a lack of overtaking and long periods of unchanged order. The paper questioned whether F1 has prioritized spectacle and glamorous new venues over the fundamentals of exciting racing. Antonelli's victory may have been historically significant, but The Telegraph concluded the Madring offered little evidence F1 has found the right direction for its future calendar.
De Telegraaf focused on the shared view of Verstappen and Antonelli that Norris was the major victim of circumstances. The McLaren driver started from pole and appeared to have the race under control, only for the VSC and pit-stop timing to transform his advantage into an unrecoverable deficit. Verstappen and Antonelli agreed Norris was extremely unfortunate rather than simply beaten on pace. The Dutch outlet presented Antonelli's victory as one where strategy and circumstance were as important as outright speed.
Gazzetta dello Sport turned to the increasingly intriguing championship battle inside Mercedes. The Italian publication examined the size and significance of Antonelli's advantage over Russell, comparing it with previous campaigns and asking whether the gap makes him clear favourite. Antonelli's eighth win gave him another boost, especially with Russell unable to match his consistency. However, Gazzetta examined the numbers and historical precedents rather than treating the championship as settled, suggesting there is still plenty of racing left.
L'Equipe was particularly unimpressed, taking aim at the gap between the track's pre-race reputation and what unfolded. The Madring had been promoted as a demanding, unforgiving venue, but L'Equipe argued its first Grand Prix produced a largely soporific spectacle. The narrow layout made overtaking extremely difficult, leaving drivers dependent on strategy or unusual circumstances. The French newspaper questioned whether the circuit can deliver the close racing F1 had hoped for.
The NZ Herald celebrated Lawson's breakthrough sixth-place finish. Starting eighth, he gained two positions over the 57-lap race and kept his Red Bull out of trouble on a circuit where overtaking proved extremely difficult. The result earned him eight points and took his season tally to 59, moving him beyond Denny Hulme's previous New Zealand record of 51 points in a single F1 season. It was a landmark afternoon for Lawson, adding another chapter to New Zealand's F1 history.
The Herald Sun highlighted Verstappen's blunt verdict on the Madring. Despite finishing second, the Red Bull driver was far less enthusiastic about the track, with limited opportunities to race and overtake central to his criticism. His comments echoed broader concerns, with the circuit's tight nature making it difficult for drivers to use their cars' performance to fight through the field. The Herald Sun framed Verstappen's verdict as another warning for F1, with the new Madrid venue needing to prove it can provide better racing.
Baca Juga
Max Verstappen resmi perpanjang kontrak dengan Red Bull hingga 2030. Jos Verstappen ungkap alasan di balik keputusan bertahan di tengah spekulasi.
Lewis Hamilton gagal finis di GP Spanyol akibat kegagalan rem, mengakhiri rekor finis poin terpanjang musim 2026 dan menghancurkan harapan gelarnya.
Liam Lawson ungkap beban mental persiapan ganda untuk Red Bull dan Racing Bulls selama tiga balapan F1. Simak cerita lengkapnya di sini.
Lanjutkan dengan Google
Diskusi & Komentar (0)
Mari Bergabung dalam Diskusi!
Masuk dengan mudah untuk mulai memberikan komentar, membalas, dan berinteraksi dengan pembaca lainnya.
Komentar Terbaru
Belum ada komentar. Jadilah yang pertama!