Madrid arrived on the Formula 1 calendar promising something spectacular. Its imposing banked corner, unforgiving walls and 340-kilometre-per-hour straights certainly looked dramatic. Yet the inaugural race at the new Madring circuit ultimately became a contest decided less by overtaking than by timing, patience, and one extraordinarily fortunate Virtual Safety Car, followed, for Leclerc, by the unfortunate absence of another interruption!
For Charles Leclerc, however, there were still moments to savour: the Monegasque led the Formula 1TM first race around Madrid and carried Ferrari’s hopes almost single-handedly to fourth place.
Leclerc had looked competitive throughout the weekend, finishing third, second and second again in the three practice sessions. But on a circuit where starting position was crucial, qualifying fifth, just 0.006 seconds behind teammate Lewis Hamilton and less than two tenths from pole, left him with difficult work ahead.
Hamilton Exits
Hamilton’s race ended after only six laps with a brake problem, leaving Leclerc as Ferrari’s sole representative.
At the front, polesitter Lando Norris initially appeared in control. Then, on lap 15, Lance Stroll’s accident triggered a Virtual Safety Car seconds after Norris had passed the pit entrance. Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen immediately stopped at reduced cost, while Norris was forced to wait another lap, by which time racing had resumed. A seven-second pit stop completed McLaren’s misfortune.
Leclerc stayed out and swept into the lead.
For more than 30 laps, the scarlet Ferrari headed the field around the Formula 1TM newest circuit. It was a strategic gamble: Ferrari hoped another interruption might provide Leclerc with a cheap pit stop and transform an unlikely lead into a possible podium.
The opportunity never came.
Leclerc finally stopped on lap 48, surrendering first place but returning to the track in fourth. He then resisted George Russell’s late pressure to claim 12 valuable points for Ferrari. Just 0.713 seconds separated them at the finish.
Antonelli Takes His Eighth Victory
Ahead, Antonelli became the Madring’s first winner, taking his eighth victory of the season and extending his championship lead to 81 points. Verstappen finished second, only 0.738 seconds ahead of the unfortunate Norris.
Madrid’s striking new circuit may have produced fewer overtakes than its creators hoped, but Leclerc extracted almost everything available. Fifth on the grid became fourth at the flag; Ferrari’s lone surviving car spent much of the afternoon in the lead; and after the disappointment of Monza, Monaco’s favourite son delivered a composed and intelligent recovery.
The podium remained tantalisingly out of reach, but for one long Spanish afternoon, car number 16 showed the way around newest stage of Formula1TM.
