Samwise F1 Newsletter
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Kimi Antonelli Wins Inaugural Madrid Grand Prix to Extend Championship Lead to 81 Points
Kimi Antonelli claimed Mercedes’ eighth victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix, held at Madrid’s new Madring circuit, extending his Drivers’ Championship lead to 81 points over team-mate George Russell. Pole-sitter Lando Norris led comfortably until a Virtual Safety Car was triggered on Lap 15 when Lance Stroll stopped on track. Norris had already passed the pit lane entry and could not respond while rivals pitted behind him. Max Verstappen finished second and Norris recovered to third, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton retired with brake-pedal issues. Standings remain with 14 of 23 races complete.
Sources: Formula1.com
Norris Calls for VSC Rule Overhaul After Timing Gap Costs McLaren Spanish GP Win
Lando Norris has called for Formula 1 to change its Virtual Safety Car rules after VSC timing denied McLaren victory at the Spanish Grand Prix. Norris was six seconds clear when a VSC was called on Lap 15 for Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin but had just passed the pit entry, meaning McLaren pitted him a lap late as racing resumed, dropping him behind Antonelli, Verstappen and Russell. “It’s a rule that shouldn’t define a race,” Norris told Sky Sports F1. The McLaren driver confirmed the issue had been raised in previous drivers’ briefings. He finished third. McLaren chief executive Zak Brown called the VSC timing “cruel.”
F1 Drivers Condemn Madring Circuit Design After Spanish GP Debut Yields Just Four Overtakes
Formula 1 drivers heavily criticized the newly built Madring circuit in Madrid following its inaugural grand prix, which produced just four on-track overtakes after the opening lap — far below the season average of 61. Several drivers singled out the circuit’s combined corner entries, where cars must brake and steer simultaneously, as eliminating overtaking opportunities. Oliver Bearman called it “a poor track for racing,” while one driver said “I almost fell asleep.” Kimi Antonelli noted that overtake attempts risk contact “80% of the time.” Lando Norris proposed removing Turns 18 and 19 to create a straight into a hairpin to open up passing opportunities.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Spanish GP Organisers Promise Three Madring Circuit Changes for 2027 After Driver Backlash
Spanish Grand Prix organisers have committed to modifying the Madring circuit for 2027 after a driver revolt following F1’s debut visit to Madrid. Promoters say changes will target three specific areas: Turn 5’s chicane, whose curved layout prevents side-by-side racing; Turn 13, a left-hander that will be tightened to enable position changes; and the area around Turn 20, which will be widened and reprofiled to allow cars to fight without risking a wide exit. The delayed construction schedule — work began April 2025 following a wet winter — prevented track modifications before homologation for the inaugural race.
Hamilton Concedes 2026 Title After Spain Retirement: “There’s No Stopping” Antonelli
Lewis Hamilton effectively conceded the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship after suffering his first race retirement of the season with a brake-pedal problem at the Spanish Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver now trails championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 101 points with nine races remaining. “I think there’s no stopping him and Mercedes this year,” Hamilton said in a post-race interview with Sky Sports F1. “They’ve done a phenomenal job and they deserve it.” Hamilton’s retirement in Madrid compounded an already difficult weekend, as team-mate Charles Leclerc finished fourth while Antonelli extended his lead to 292 points — 81 ahead of second-placed George Russell.
Sources: Sky Sports F1
Honda Appoints New F1 Power Unit Chief as Aston Martin Scores Just Three Championship Points
Honda has announced a leadership change in its Formula 1 power unit programme, with Yoichiro Fukao succeeding Tetsushi Kakuda as Large Project Leader from October 1. Honda called the move “a planned transition designed to ensure the reliable transfer of technical expertise to the next generation of engineers.” The change comes amid a troubled season for Aston Martin, which has scored only three points from 14 races. Fernando Alonso reported during the Spanish GP that the power unit struggled to recover power when respecting blue flags. Lance Stroll also said Honda’s upgrade introduced at the Dutch Grand Prix under the FIA’s ADUO scheme was “nowhere near enough.”
Sources: Formula1.com
Alonso Warns FIA and F1 That Battery Management Regulations Cannot Continue This Way
Fernando Alonso issued a stark warning to Formula 1 leadership during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, telling FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 boss Stefano Domenicali that “Formula 1 cannot continue in this way.” The two-time world champion argued that the 2026 regulations’ battery management requirements are suppressing driver performance, saying a rival’s press officer could go faster than Max Verstappen through Turn 12 with more battery. Alonso called for an earlier return to more combustion power, saying teams cannot wait until 2031. His own F1 future remains uncertain, with his Aston Martin contract expiring at year’s end.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Drivers Championship
| Pos | Driver | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | K. Antonelli | 292 |
| 2 | G. Russell | 211 |
| 3 | L. Hamilton | 191 |
| 4 | L. Norris | 186 |
| 5 | C. Leclerc | 167 |
| 6 | M. Verstappen | 145 |
| 7 | O. Piastri | 120 |
| 8 | I. Hadjar | 71 |
| 9 | L. Lawson | 59 |
| 10 | P. Gasly | 41 |
| 11 | A. Lindblad | 31 |
| 12 | F. Colapinto | 27 |
| 13 | O. Bearman | 18 |
| 14 | G. Bortoleto | 10 |
| 15 | N. Hulkenberg | 7 |
| 16 | C. Sainz | 6 |
| 17 | A. Albon | 5 |
| 18 | E. Ocon | 3 |
| 19 | F. Alonso | 3 |
| 20 | Y. Tsunoda | 1 |
| 21 | L. Stroll | 0 |
| 22 | V. Bottas | 0 |
| 23 | S. Perez | 0 |
Constructors Championship
| Pos | Constructor | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes | 503 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 358 |
| 3 | McLaren | 306 |
| 4 | Red Bull | 230 |
| 5 | Racing Bulls | 77 |
| 6 | Alpine | 68 |
| 7 | Haas | 21 |
| 8 | Audi | 17 |
| 9 | Williams | 11 |
| 10 | Aston Martin | 3 |
| 11 | Cadillac | 0 |
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency