Kimi Antonelli has admitted that his victory at the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix was not fully deserved. The Mercedes driver capitalised on a well-timed Virtual Safety Car (VSC) to snatch the lead from Lando Norris, who had been dominant until then.
In the 53-lap race at the new Madring circuit, Antonelli started from second on the grid. He then got a huge break when Norris, who started from pole, lost his advantage due to a slow pit stop under unfavourable VSC conditions. Antonelli held on to take the chequered flag.
However, after the race, the 20-year-old spoke candidly to the media, including Motorsport Week. "To be realistic and honest, today we didn't deserve to win," he said. "Lando deserved to win today. So I think our result would probably be [second] or even [third]."
Antonelli also admitted that he had already put himself on the back foot after an aggressive opening lap saw him run wide at the Turn 1 and 5 chicanes. "I just didn't do a good enough job at the start, being a bit too aggressive, and then putting myself in a bad position," he added. "So, yeah, definitely things to work on. But holding on, today went well and I'm happy with that. We're just going to try to be better."
Despite the win, Antonelli is not resting on his laurels. He now leads the championship by 81 points over his teammate, George Russell, who finished fourth in Spain. The lead is substantial, but Antonelli remains cautious.
"Yeah, it's great, but we've just got to keep pushing, keep delivering the results, and just trying to do the best job I can whenever I go on track," he explained. "Of course, I have a big lead but you never know what can happen. So, I just need to be ready for anything and keep maximising every opportunity I get, and we'll see what we end up with at the end of the year."
With only a handful of rounds to go in the 2026 championship, and Imola looking like the most likely destination for the season finale, it could be an Italian coronation for the Mercedes driver by the time the season comes to a close.
This victory in Spain may not have come in ideal circumstances, but for Antonelli, it is still an important milestone in his career. He became the first driver to win a race at the Madring circuit, an achievement that cannot be overlooked.
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