NewzMADRID (AP) — This time, Kimi Antonelli didn't have to work too hard for his Formula 1 victory.A week after having to come from the back of the grid for an epic win in front of his home fans at Monza, Antonelli was virtually gifted the victory at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday.The young Italian took advantage of an unlucky break for Lando Norris to win in F1's return to Madrid and increase his lead in the drivers' standings.“It’s good to win and I think the pace at the end was good,” Antonelli said. “But if I have to be realistic and honest, you know, today we didn’t deserve to win. Lando deserved to win today.”Antonelli was second early on at the new Madring track in the Spanish capital, but pole-sitter Norris relinquished his lead after he wasn't able to pit when a virtual safety car was deployed.
He had already passed the pit entrance and had to pit on the next lap in a move that dropped him a few positions.“Lucky for the virtual safety car, feel a bit bad for Lando,” Antonelli said on the radio after the race.He had come from 19th place to win at the Italian GP last weekend.“It doesn’t feel as good because I think Lando today deserved to win,” Antonelli said. “But overall, you know, we’ll take it.”Norris ended third, behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen in “one that just got away from us.” He said he was “insanely unlucky” with the safety car and “there was nothing I could do.”“I was the only one on the whole grid that didn’t get the chance to do the pit stop. That’s just unfortunate," Norris said.
“Of course I feel like I deserved more today, but the others also did a good race and I have to give credit to that too.”Charles Leclerc, who led most of the race after opting not to pit when the virtual safety car was deployed, ended fourth after having to change tires late.Leclerc's Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton saw his race last only seven laps after he reported a problem with his brakes and retired. The seven-time world champion had also struggled last weekend in the Italian GP, when he finished sixth following an early dust-up with Leclerc.The Spanish GP returned to the Madrid region for the first time in 45 years. It last took place at the Jarama circuit in the capital’s outskirts in 1981.It was the eighth race win this season for Antonelli, who now leads teammate George Russell by 81 points with nine races remaining.
Russell finished fifth Sunday."Real… Kimi Antonelli has taken advantage of Lando Norris' mishaps to win the Spanish Grand Prix in Formula 1's return to Madrid, increasing his lead in the drivers' standings.
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