F1 leader Antonelli wins Spanish Grand Prix as unlucky Norris misses out
The 20-year-old Italian has extended his championship lead to 81 points after 14 rounds.
Kimi Antonelli has moved a mighty step closer to the Formula One title after winning the first Spanish Grand Prix held at Madrid’s new circuit with a slice of luck on the side.
The 20-year-old Italian’s Madrid victory on Sunday – his eighth win of the season – stretched his championship lead to 81 points after 14 rounds.
Antonelli benefited from a well-timed virtual safety car (VSC) and a calamitous McLaren pit stop on lap 16 of 57 that robbed pole-sitter and early leader Lando Norris of a likely win on a track where overtaking proved almost impossible.
Verstappen also gained a place that he had to hand back to Antonelli and lost and gained position to Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who then suffered a brake problem that eventually forced the seven-time world champion to retire.