Inside the Spanish Grand Prix and why F1 needs to drastically change the Madring - AOL

The 2026 Spanish Grand Prix marked Formula 1’s return to Madrid after a long gap since 1981, with the new circuit “Madring” built for £71 million. Lando Norris started from pole and launched aggressively, but a virtual safety car on lap 15 disrupted the rhythm and helped Mercedes’ rising star, Kimi Antonelli, take the win. Norris couldn’t convert pole to a customary result, in a race that became a flashpoint for discussion about the track layout and safety. A recent Formula 3 test reportedly saw 19 red flags over two days, prompting Williams boss James Vowles to call Madring a “car killer.”