Kimi Antonelli's Spanish GP Victory Affected by Lando Norris's Pace, Says Hinchcliffe

Kimi Antonelli, the current championship leader, achieved his eighth victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Spanish Grand Prix held at the Madring circuit. His win, however, was influenced by a well-timed virtual safety car, which allowed him to extend his lead in the standings over teammate George Russell by 81 points.

During the race, Lando Norris, who started from pole position, initially built a significant lead. However, after the virtual safety car was deployed just as he was about to pit, Antonelli took advantage of the situation with a quicker pit stop. Norris's subsequent pit stop was delayed, costing him valuable time.

James Hinchcliffe, a former IndyCar driver and F1 analyst, remarked that despite Antonelli's successful race, he might feel a sense of frustration knowing that Norris had the faster car. Hinchcliffe noted that even successful drivers can feel a sting when they are aware that another competitor was quicker on the day.