Source : ABC NEWS
Oscar Piastri and George Russell made contact with each other twice before the first corner, as Kimi Antonelli took full advantage of a fortunate safety car to win the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix.
Piastri finished eighth in the maiden grand prix at the brand-new Madring circuit, driving most of the race with a damaged front wing.
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The Australian started seventh on the grid and got a fair start off the line. Russell, starting sixth, cut across Piastri and made contact with the Australian’s front wing.
The pair made contact again while braking for the first corner, with Piastri’s front left colliding with the rear of Russell’s car.
Part of Piastri’s damaged wing flapped in the breeze as the Australian tried to finish as high as he could.
Piastri went deep into the race before pitting, emerging back on track in 11th.
The Australian battled back in the final laps to climb back up to eighth.
Norris cruelled by safety car, Antonelli tightens grip on title with win
An ill-timed safety car cost reigning world champion Lando Norris the chance of victory in Spain, as Kimi Antonelli’s win gave the young Italian an 81-point lead in the drivers’ championship.
Kimi Antonelli has now won eight grands prix this season. (Reuters: Albert Gea)
Norris, who started on pole, had a healthy lead over Antonelli on lap 14 of 57 when misfortune struck the McLaren driver.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll went off the track, leading to a virtual safety car being called.
Norris had passed the entrance to the pit lane moments before the VSC was deployed, meaning he had to drive at 40 per cent speed while others behind him, including Antoenlli and Max Verstappen, took a cheap pit stop.
As Norris approached the pit entrance on lap 15 the VSC ended and he pitted while his rivals were able to race at full speed.
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McLaren also had a slow stop thanks to an issue with changing the front right tyre, meaning he dropped from first to sixth.
“Tough race, one that just got away from us,” Norris said.
“I felt like we deserved it today, but that’s racing. We’ll take it on the chin and try again next time.”
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc did not pit and led the race from Antonelli.
Leclerc stayed out until lap 48 of 57, and with the Madring proving hard to pass on, Antonelli, Max Verstappen and Norris were bunched up behind him, setting up a tense finish.
Once Leclerc pitted, Antonelli was able to drive in clean air and pulled away from Verstappen, who was able to hold off Norris for second place.
“It was a very difficult race, not straightforward at all,” Antonelli said post-race.
“It’s good to win, but it doesn’t feel as good because I think Lando deserved the win.“
While Antonelli claimed his eighth grand prix win of the season, his nearest rivals in the championship were off the podium.
Mercedes teammate Russell placed fifth, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton retired early with a brake failure.
Antonelli’s lead in the drivers’ championship is a big 81 to Russell, and 101 points to Hamilton with either eight or nine race weekends remaining, depending on whether F1 can race in the Middle East at the end of the year.
