Samwise F1 Newsletter
Sunday, September 13, 2026
Norris Snatches Spanish GP Pole from Antonelli at Madring by 0.011s
Lando Norris claimed his third pole position of the 2026 season at the inaugural qualifying session at Madrid’s Madring circuit, edging championship leader Kimi Antonelli by just 0.011 seconds. Norris set a lap of 1m31.824s on his final Q3 run, delivering what he described as one of the best laps of his career. Antonelli had held provisional pole for much of the session before the McLaren driver’s late improvement. Max Verstappen qualified third for Red Bull, with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton fourth and Charles Leclerc fifth. Oscar Piastri qualified seventh in his McLaren.
Hamilton Crashes in FP3, Ignores Ferrari and Race Director Orders in Madrid
Lewis Hamilton crashed his Ferrari at the Madring’s final corner during final practice on Saturday, causing a red flag. Despite significant damage to his SF-26 — including a punctured front-right tyre and a front wing wedged under the car — Hamilton repeatedly ignored instructions from both Ferrari race engineer Carlos Santi and Formula 1 race director Rui Marques to stop the car. Hamilton completed half a lap with the damaged machine before eventually returning to the pits. The stewards reviewed the incident but issued no penalty. Hamilton ultimately qualified fourth, despite the disruption to his preparations.
Wolff Dismisses ‘Couch Warriors’ Criticising Mercedes Strategy at Italian GP
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has fired back at critics accusing the Silver Arrows of favouring Kimi Antonelli over George Russell during the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Under a virtual safety car, Mercedes pitted Antonelli rather than race-leader Russell, a decision that ultimately allowed the 18-year-old to overtake his team-mate in the final laps and take victory. Wolff dismissed commentators he labelled “couch warriors” who accused the team of an anti-Russell bias, insisting there was no “hidden agenda or favouritism” in the call. Russell ended Monza 66 points adrift of his team-mate in the title fight.
Sources: Sky Sports F1
Sainz Penalised Three Places, Stroll Starts Last After Power Unit Breach at Madring
The 2026 Spanish Grand Prix starting grid was revised following two post-qualifying penalties. Carlos Sainz received a three-place grid drop after stewards found he impeded Valtteri Bottas on a flying lap during Q1, moving the Williams driver from 17th to 20th on the grid. Meanwhile, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was hit with a 40-place penalty for exceeding his allocated power unit component allowance, effectively sending him to the back of the field. Several other drivers — including Antonelli, Russell, Leclerc and Bortoleto — avoided grid drops despite investigations into separate qualifying incidents.
Sources: GrandPrix247
Madring Race-Day Mystery: Tyre Degradation and Overtaking Possibilities Unclear
Formula 1 drivers head into Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid’s brand-new Madring circuit bracing for significant uncertainty over race-day conditions. The Madring, a 5.474km circuit blending street sections with a high-speed purpose-built loop, hosted its first-ever qualifying session on Saturday but tyre degradation rates and genuine overtaking opportunities remain unknown. The circuit features limited run-off areas and few obvious passing zones, raising questions over whether the race could produce a strategic battle or a procession. Teams are expected to factor in safety car probability given the tight barriers, adding further complexity to pit stop strategy planning.
Sources: Sky Sports F1
Verstappen Encouraged by Red Bull’s Qualifying Pace at New Madring Circuit
Max Verstappen expressed satisfaction with Red Bull’s performance after qualifying third at the Madring, 0.140 seconds behind pole-sitter Lando Norris. The Dutch driver said he was pleased with how the RB22 responded to the new circuit’s demands, describing the team’s pace as encouraging given the unknowns heading into the weekend. Verstappen starts Sunday’s race from third position and is well placed to challenge for a podium in a championship battle where he has closed the gap to the leaders in recent rounds. Teammate Liam Lawson qualified eighth, providing Red Bull with two competitive starting positions.
Ferrari Face Hamilton-Leclerc Management Challenge at Madring Spanish GP
Ferrari enter Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix managing a familiar dilemma at the Madring circuit, with Lewis Hamilton starting fourth and Charles Leclerc fifth after a difficult qualifying session. Team principal Fred Vasseur faces pressure to ensure the two drivers do not compromise each other in a race where every point matters in the constructors’ championship battle with Mercedes. Hamilton’s FP3 crash and subsequent refusal to stop his damaged car added tension to Ferrari’s preparations. The Italian team sit second in the constructors’ standings but remain 122 points behind Mercedes, making clean racing imperative.
How Norris Produced His ‘Unrepeatable’ Spanish GP Pole Lap at Madring
Lando Norris delivered what he called an almost “unrepeatable” lap to claim pole position at the inaugural Madring qualifying session. Analysis reveals Norris was not among the frontrunners for much of qualifying, having dealt with a gearbox issue during FP2. His decisive final Q3 run found time through the Madring’s high-speed loop section, where McLaren’s aerodynamic advantage proved decisive. Norris conceded the lap was probably a maximum lap for the circuit. Kimi Antonelli, who had led the session, said he had no more pace to give after his own final attempt came up 0.011 seconds short.
Drivers' Championship
| Pos | Driver | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | K. Antonelli | 267 |
| 2 | G. Russell | 201 |
| 3 | L. Hamilton | 191 |
| 4 | L. Norris | 171 |
| 5 | C. Leclerc | 155 |
| 6 | M. Verstappen | 140 |
| 7 | O. Piastri | 128 |
| 8 | I. Hadjar | 68 |
| 9 | L. Lawson | 49 |
| 10 | P. Gasly | 44 |
| 11 | A. Lindblad | 23 |
| 12 | F. Colapinto | 19 |
| 13 | O. Bearman | 18 |
| 14 | G. Bortoleto | 10 |
| 15 | C. Sainz | 6 |
| 16 | A. Albon | 5 |
| 17 | E. Ocon | 3 |
| 18 | N. Hülkenberg | 2 |
| 19 | F. Alonso | 1 |
| 20 | L. Stroll | 0 |
After Round 13 (Italian GP)
Constructors' Championship
| Pos | Constructor | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes | 468 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 346 |
| 3 | McLaren | 299 |
| 4 | Red Bull | 189 |
| 5 | Alpine | 63 |
| 6 | Racing Bulls | 72 |
| 7 | Haas | 21 |
| 8 | Audi | 12 |
| 9 | Williams | 11 |
| 10 | Aston Martin | 1 |
After Round 13 (Italian GP)
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