Kimi Antonelli gains advantage from virtual safety car in Spain
2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 18, 2026, 11:49 AM
Last updated Sep 18, 2026
Kimi Antonelli capitalized on a crucial virtual safety car deployment during Formula 1's Spanish Grand Prix on September 16, 2026. The incident was triggered by Lance Stroll's retirement, enabling Antonelli to take the lead in a race that initially favored Lando Norris. Both drivers were competitive throughout, but Antonelli's timely strategy shift proved decisive. The race remains ongoing as drivers navigate the laps ahead.
- •Kimi Antonelli leads during the Spanish Grand Prix.
- •Lance Stroll's retirement triggers a virtual safety car.
- •Lando Norris was initially ahead before the safety car.
- 11:49 AMMotorsport.com — Mercedes reveals the "secret code" tactic behind Kimi Antonelli's Madrid-winning VSC call
- 12:58 PMMotorsport.com — How Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes made their own luck in Madrid
"Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin has explained how the team prepares its drivers for situations like the one that decided the Spanish Grand Prix - including the use of secret codes that may have helped Kimi Antonelli make his Formula 1 race-winning pitstop. After being alerted to the yellow flags for Lance Stroll's stopped Aston Martin, Antonelli backed off significantly ...Keep reading
"There’s no doubt everything fell perfectly into place for Kimi Antonelli to win Formula 1's Spanish Grand Prix. The virtual safety car triggered by Lance Stroll’s retirement came at the perfect moment, changing the course of a race that, until that point, had seemed destined to end with victory for Lando Norris. Having already passed the pitlane entry by the time the VSC was deployed ...Keep reading
Sources
External links- Motorsport.comSep 18, 2026, 11:49 AMMercedes reveals the "secret code" tactic behind Kimi Antonelli's Madrid-winning VSC call
Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin has explained how the team prepares its drivers for situations like the one that decided the Spanish Grand Prix - including the use of secret codes that may have helped Kimi Antonelli make his Formula 1 race-winning pitstop. After being alerted to the yellow flags for Lance Stroll's stopped Aston Martin, Antonelli backed off significantly ...Keep reading
- Motorsport.comSep 16, 2026, 12:58 PMHow Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes made their own luck in Madrid
There’s no doubt everything fell perfectly into place for Kimi Antonelli to win Formula 1's Spanish Grand Prix. The virtual safety car triggered by Lance Stroll’s retirement came at the perfect moment, changing the course of a race that, until that point, had seemed destined to end with victory for Lando Norris. Having already passed the pitlane entry by the time the VSC was deployed ...Keep reading
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