Antonelli wins 1st Formula 1 race in Madrid in 45 years after unlucky break for pole-sitter Norris

MADRID (AP) — Kimi Antonelli took advantage of an unlucky break for Lando Norris to win the Spanish Grand Prix in Formula 1 's return to Madrid on Sunday, increasing his lead in the drivers' standings.

It was the second consecutive victory for Antonelli, the young Mercedes driver who had come-from-behind to win his home race at the Italian GP last weekend.

Antonelli was second early on at the new Madring track in the Spanish capital, but pole-sitter Norris relinquished his lead after he wasn't able to pit when a virtual safety car was deployed. He had already passed the pit entrance and had to pit on the next lap in a questionable strategy call by McLaren that dropped him a few positions.

“Lucky for the virtual safety car, feel a bit bad for Lando,” Antonelli said on the radio after the race. “Really strong race, strong weekend, let’s keep pushing.”

Norris ended third, behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

“There was nothing I could do. Congrats to Kimi and Max, they drove a good race today,” Norris said. “Just luck not on our side. Rough race, one that just got away from us. I thought we deserved it today.”

Charles Leclerc, who led most of the race after opting not to pit when the virtual safety car was deployed, ended fourth after having to change tires late.

Leclerc's Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton saw his race last only seven laps after he reported a problem with his brakes and retired. The seven-time world champion had also struggled last weekend in the Italian GP, when he finished sixth following an early dust-up with Leclerc.

The Spanish GP returned to the Madrid region for the first time in 45 years. It last took place at the Jarama circuit in the capital’s outskirts in 1981.

It was the eighth race win this season for Antonelli, who now leads teammate George Russell by 81 points with nine races remaining. Russell finished fifth Sunday.

The start of the race gained importance with the new track yielding few overtake opportunities, and Antonelli was able to challenge Norris into the first turn. He got past the McLaren driver after cutting the corner to avoid a collision but had to give the position back.

Verstappen also had to give back the position to Lewis Hamilton after gaining advantage while going off the track shortly after the start.

Virtual safety car changes fortunes

The race changed on Lap 15 when the virtual safety car was deployed after the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll stopped on the track with a brake problem.

Norris missed the opportunity to pit under the safety car and Antonelli took advantage to stop and come out in front of the McLaren. Leclerc stayed out and moved to first place on a different strategy.

Norris ended pitting a lap later, when the virtual safety had ended, so he lost more time and returned to the track in fifth position. He also lost time because his stop was slower than usual because of a problem with the right-front wheel.

With the hard tires holding on well, the front-running drivers did not have to pit again and Leclerc had to come in late for his required stop, relinquishing the lead.

Spaniards squabble early

The home grand prix was one to forget for the local drivers.

The only two Spaniards on the grid, Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz, started on the back and touched each other early in the race.

“He squeezed me into the wall,” Alonso said. “(At) the start, he crashed into two people, now he squeezed me into the wall on breaking.”

Sainz had also collided with other drivers after an aggressive start at his home race. He received a five-second penalty for the incident with Alonso, and eventually retired with a car issue.

Spanish King Felipe VI was among those on hand for the race in the Spanish capital.

Organizers expected a total attendance of nearly 350,000 spectators throughout the weekend.

Protests ahead of the race

Hours before the start, a few hundred residents from neighborhoods in northern Madrid protested against the return of the race.