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Antonelli Wins as Norris Loses Out Under Virtual Safety Car
Confirmed
In Short: Kimi Antonelli secured his first Formula 1 victory at the Madring, while Lando Norris lost out due to a mistimed pit stop during a virtual safety car period.
Kimi Antonelli won Formula 1’s first grand prix at the Madring, holding off Max Verstappen and Lando Norris to the flag. Norris stayed out during the virtual safety car period but was called in as it ended, losing the dominant race. Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton gambled on the red-walled soft tires from the second row, while Norris and Antonelli started on mediums.
Norris immediately gave the place back to Antonelli, who was leading. Verstappen kept the position on Hamilton, arguing he had taken evasive action due to Hamilton’s driving. Oscar Piastri finished eighth after front-wing damage from contact with Russell at the start and never matched Norris’s pace.
Antonelli was right behind Leclerc and Norris was putting pressure on Verstappen for third, with those four drivers within four seconds. Ferrari was delaying Leclerc’s pitstop in the hope of a safety car, but there was none, and Leclerc pitted on lap 48. Norris comfortably pulled away in the early stages but pitted right after a virtual safety car intervention, which pegged him back and cost him the victory.
According to reports, Antonelli told his engineers, 'I didn’t touch the wall, but the steering feels weird.' Norris, who himself described his qualifying performance as 'pretty shocking,' lost the race due to the timing of his pit stop.
What's confirmed
- Kimi Antonelli won Formula 1’s first grand prix at the Madring, holding off Max Verstappen and Lando Norris to the flag. Norris stayed out during the virtual safety car period but was called in as it ended, losing the dominant race. Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton gambled on the red-walled soft tires from the second row, while Norris and Antonelli started on mediums.
- Norris immediately gave the place back to Antonelli, who was leading. Verstappen kept the position on Hamilton, arguing he had taken evasive action due to Hamilton’s driving. Oscar Piastri finished eighth after front-wing damage from contact with Russell at the start and never matched Norris’s pace.
- Antonelli was right behind Leclerc and Norris was putting pressure on Verstappen for third, with those four drivers within four seconds. Ferrari was delaying Leclerc’s pitstop in the hope of a safety car, but there was none, and Leclerc pitted on lap 48. Norris comfortably pulled away in the early stages but pitted right after a virtual safety car intervention, which pegged him back and cost him the victory.
- According to reports, Antonelli told his engineers, 'I didn’t touch the wall, but the steering feels weird.' Norris, who himself described his qualifying performance as 'pretty shocking,' lost the race due to the timing of his pit stop.
What's still developing
- “The VSC was after I passed pit entry, there was nothing I could do,” Norris said.
- Pirelli predicted a 2.31m difference between soft and medium tyres at the start, so it was interesting for second-row starters Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton to pick the red-walled compound, unlike polesitter Lando Norris and Kimi Antonelli alongside him.
- Verstappen staunchly argued that he’d had to take evasive action due to Hamilton’s unruly driving, but Red Bull was adamant he should make sure to avoid a penalty, so Verstappen let Antonelli – whom he was now leading – and Hamilton by on lap four.