Liam Lawson makes history as Madring slammed for 'lifeless' Spanish GP

Kimi Antonelli took his eighth win of the 2026 season at the Spanish Grand Prix, but Lando Norris's Virtual Safety Car error and heavy criticism of the Madring dominated the aftermath. Liam Lawson made history with sixth place.

Why it matters:

The Madring was meant to showcase F1's new era. Instead, limited overtaking and a processional race triggered a media backlash and immediate questions about the circuit's future.

The details:

• Antonelli won from second, ahead of Verstappen. Norris, on pole by 0.011s, lost a likely win when his VSC stop turned a comfortable lead into a deficit.
• Lawson finished sixth, scoring eight points and surpassing Denny Hulme's 51-point New Zealand record. Hamilton retired with brake problems; Sainz was a non-finisher.
• The Telegraph called the race "lifeless," and L'Équipe said the Madring was sold as a "car-killing monster" but proved a "deadly machine for falling asleep."
• De Telegraaf reported Verstappen and Antonelli felt Norris was the big loser. Gazzetta dello Sport questioned if Antonelli's 81-point lead over Russell is decisive. The NZ Herald hailed Lawson, and the Herald Sun noted Verstappen's blunt verdict on the track.

The big picture:

Antonelli's championship advantage is now commanding. But the bigger story is the circuit itself. If the Madring cannot produce more compelling racing, the criticism from its debut will only grow louder. The title fight moves on with Antonelli in control, but the Madring must prove it can deliver the spectacle F1 promised.