Nimah Alabi
F1 Driver, Kimi Antonelli, made history on Sunday after winning the first Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit in Madrid.
The 20-year-old Mercedes driver finished ahead of Red Bull’s, Max Verstappen, while McLaren’s, Lando Norris, took third place.
Antonelli’s victory was his eighth of the 2026 Formula 1 season and further increased his position in the drivers’ championship.
The race did not begin as smoothly as expected for Norris, who started from pole position.
A virtual safety car created an opportunity for several drivers to make pit stops, but Norris’ stop left him in a difficult position and allowed Antonelli to take control of the race.
Antonelli stayed composed until the finish, crossing the line more than four seconds ahead of Verstappen.
Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari, while Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate, George Russell came fifth.
Lewis Hamilton, the other Ferrari driver, was forced to retire after experiencing brake problems.
The victory was particularly significant because it was the first Formula 1 race held at the new Madring circuit. Madrid returned to the Formula 1 calendar after 45 years.
More than 350,000 spectators attended the race weekend, making the event a major sporting occasion for the Spanish capital.
For Antonelli, however, the biggest moment came at the finish line.
His historic victory not only made him the first Formula 1 winner at Madring but also strengthened his position as one of the leading young drivers in the sport.
