The 14th round of the 2026 Formula 1 season — the Spanish Grand Prix — concluded in Madrid. The country's capital hosted the royal race for the first time since 1981, and the winner on the new street circuit was Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Sport RBC.UA reports this, citing the official race results. The victory became yet another triumph for the Italian, who used it to further strengthen his position in the fight for the championship title.
A Historic Return to Madrid
The Spanish Grand Prix was one of the most anticipated events of the weekend, as Madrid returned to the Formula 1 calendar for the first time in 45 years. The race took place on a new street circuit, which added spectacle and unpredictability to the event. It was on this configuration that the field demonstrated close racing, and the teams' strategic decisions and the mechanics' work on the pit lane proved decisive for the final order of the race.
Dramatic Qualifying and a Turning Point in the Race
Qualifying on the new track the day before was won dramatically by Lando Norris of McLaren, who confidently held the lead at the start of the main race as well. However, the course of the race changed with the activation of the virtual safety car mode following Lance Stroll's stoppage. Norris came in for a tyre change later than his rivals, where the mechanics suffered a delay. As a result, the Briton dropped straight to fifth place and, after fighting his way back through the field, managed to finish only third.
Antonelli's Triumph and the Podium
The race victory was snatched by Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who drove a consistent race and capitalised on his rivals' mistakes. Max Verstappen of Red Bull crossed the finish line second, while Lando Norris rounded out the top three. Thus, the podium in Madrid featured drivers from three different teams, underscoring the closely contested battle at the top of the field in this new round.
A Difficult Weekend for Ferrari
The round was also unsuccessful for Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton retired at the start of the race due to brake problems, failing to reach the finish. His teammate Charles Leclerc, who led for a long time, ultimately finished only fourth, losing the fight for the podium. For the Maranello team, this weekend became yet another reminder of the need to stabilise reliability and pace in the key races of the season.
The Title Fight and the Constructors' Championship
Thanks to his latest triumph, Antonelli has further strengthened his claims to the championship title. The Italian leads the overall standings with 292 points, ahead of his Mercedes teammate George Russell (211) by 81 points. Lewis Hamilton (191) completes the top three. Mercedes dominates the Constructors' Championship convincingly with 503 points; the closest pursuers are Ferrari (358) and McLaren (306).
What's Next
The next Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in two weeks: Baku will host the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from 24 to 26 September. It is there that the drivers will continue their fight for championship points, and Mercedes will attempt to extend its lead in the Constructors' Championship.
