Kimi Antonelli’s seemingly inexorable march to his first Formula One world championship advanced at double time as the young Italian proved to have good fortune on his side too with his victory at the Spanish Grand Prix.
His execution was perfect as he became the first driver to win at F1’s newest circuit, the Madring, in beating Red Bull’s Max Verstappen into second and McLaren’s Lando Norris into third. But Antonelli’s win came at a cost to Norris who, while having led until lap 14 and was impressively quick, was just unlucky and try as he might was left tilting at windmills in Madrid.
That Norris could not at least fight back came after the unfortunate timing of a virtual safety car (VSC). It cost him because he passed the pit lane entry a fraction after it was called. This was a factor in what was something of an indictment of a brand new circuit – built at enormous expense but whose design has contrived to make overtaking all but impossible.
It was at best a prosaic procession and at times a snooze in the sunshine as there were just a handful, not even double figures, of on‑track passes after the opening lap and none of them at the sharp end. A remarkable occurrence this season given the extent that the new engine formula has promoted repeated changes of position, so much so that it has become known as yo-yo racing. That wasn’t the case in Madrid.
The field largely circulated managing their rubber, with controlled gaps between them, barely able to close and with almost no passes.
Even before the weekend began drivers had questioned whether overtaking would be possible just from their experience on simulators. As they took to the track their instincts proved all too prescient. The high-speed layout is compromised by braking zones angled in to many of the corners. It requires drivers to brake while turning in, removing the option of putting a car alongside by outbraking an opponent. While allowing for only one line into the corner this is easily defended by the leading car.
Verstappen, who had been outspoken in his criticism of the design and predicted a procession, said the track designers had made mistakes.
“You can’t overtake,” he said. “In terms of track design, I think it can be better. Input from drivers in the future on track design can also help a lot. I know they will always come back to you and say: ‘Yeah, but the space’. But that’s BS. There’s always a way to find an overtaking opportunity around a track.”
It also played into the fact that had there been even a sniff of a chance of passing Norris, he may at least have enjoyed a fight for the win, as he certainly had the pace.
Instead he was left frustrated. “Not a lot we could do … load of shit,” Verstappen said. “Just take it on the chin. We were too quick, that’s all it was. Very unlucky today, guys – we deserved the win quite easily.”
Norris, the defending world champion, looked to have the race in hand while leading until it turned on lap 14 when the VSC was called to deal with Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin which had gone into the barriers. It was called just seconds after Norris had passed the pit entrance, prompting his point that it would have been advantageous to be slightly slower.
Antonelli behind him dived in for a cheap stop and new tyres as did Verstappen, and McLaren committed to pitting Norris at the end of the lap but the timing was disastrous. The VSC ended just before he came in and then, to add insult to injury, his stop was slow at a full seven seconds.
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When Norris crawled out, his lead was gone with Antonelli and Verstappen gaining track position in front of him.
While Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc had stayed out and led the field, they proceeded to circulate with somnolent metronomy, waiting for the Monégasque to stop. He did and the three front runners continued line astern to the flag. It was impossible not to consider that on another track Norris would have had a shot at trying to pass but it was a forlorn hope in Madrid.
Even Antonelli conceded Norris had been dealt a poor hand. “It doesn’t feel as good because I think Lando today deserved the win,” he said. “But overall we’ll take it.”
Indeed he will, as a spot of luck tends to ride with world champions, which he is on course to be, given his title lead. Especially after his teammate George Russell, on a two-stop strategy that did not pay off, could manage only fifth. Another hammer blow to the British driver who, with seven career victories, has one fewer than the eight Antonelli now has this season.
Antonelli’s lead over the second‑placed Russell is now 81 points. Lewis Hamilton, who had to retire on lap six with a brake problem is third, 101 behind, while Norris is 106 behind in fourth, with nine meetings remaining.
A disappointing opening for a new circuit then but a familiar finish as Antonelli once more closed out in control. A driver who will not care at all that it was his least entertaining win of the season.
