Who had the most restful night last night: Lando Norris

Oh, the irony!

Lando Norris expressed exactly the right sentiments to his team during the cooldown lap in Madrid.

“We were simply too fast, that’s all it was.”

That’s precisely what transpired, isn’t it? Lance Stroll halted his Aston Martin at Turn 20 on lap 13 - he faced a brake issue, not that he was just fed up with the race, mind you - and Norris was only a few corners away from the incident, holding a comfortable six-second lead over Kimi Antonelli.

If he had been just three or four seconds slower during that initial stint on mediums, he would have had the opportunity to dive into the pitlane moments later, when the track marshals recognized they still needed to move the green car to a safer location. And, to be fair, Lance might have made a greater effort to park it somewhere more suitable, as there was ample space. But perhaps he truly had reached his limit with that car and was simply too eager to exit as quickly as possible.

Regardless, it was what it was. Those few seconds ultimately determined the victor of the first Spanish GP at the Madring.

Rui Marques had no choice but to activate the VSC button - leading to a series of pit stops. Ironically, even with McLaren’s sluggish pit stop, Norris would have still had enough of a cushion over Kimi to maintain his lead had he pitted at that moment. But fate had other plans.

The six-second advantage Norris held over Antonelli effectively squashed his chances of clinching the race. He had just passed the pitlane entry - and two seconds later had to ease off to adhere to the virtual safety car protocols. The timing worked out such that he simply couldn’t navigate back around the Madring before officials relocated the Aston Martin to a safer area. Meanwhile, nearly the entire field capitalized on cheap pit stops during that window - leaving Norris to change tires under green flag conditions.

Lando Norris, McLaren

If only he had been a fraction slower during those opening laps, he would have been among them, emerging back in the lead - and comfortably cruising to victory.

Even Antonelli himself wasn’t entirely at ease with the outcome.

“It’s great to win, but it doesn’t feel as satisfying,” the Italian admitted when he exited the car and was handed a microphone to share his thoughts with James Hinchcliffe and the audience about his race.

Hinchcliffe’s colleague on the F1 broadcast team, Jolyon Palmer, had remarked earlier in the week about Antonelli’s fortune this season: Kimi would have a solid chance of winning the lottery given how the past few weeks have unfolded. It’s difficult to argue that on Sunday in Madrid, he struck gold by chance.

That’s not to suggest he doesn’t deserve to lead the championship or to win races - one would have to be deluded to think otherwise - but life certainly isn’t testing him as rigorously as it did last year.

Norris, however, was unquestionably the standout driver of the weekend - much like he has been since McLaren revived itself with its new upgrades in Hungary, excluding Monza. It should have been a third victory for Norris in four races. While it may be too late to label it a genuine title chase, he would have certainly stirred excitement among a few optimistic observers.

“Very unlucky today, guys,” were Norris’ remarks as he glided back to the pitlane. “We definitely deserved the win, so a huge thank you. I didn’t expect to have a chance here, but we really should have won. Great job, everyone. Let’s keep it up.”

He added: “I’ll keep delivering.”

Now that’s a confident statement!

Lando Norris, McLaren

He aptly noted in the press conference that this VSC scenario wasn’t the first time someone lost a race in such a manner - while also recognizing that he himself has had his share of good fortune in the past. He clinched his first race in Miami largely due to a well-timed safety car, after all. So what goes around comes around. If it didn’t happen this time, he’s bound to secure more victories this year.

And what a transformation he has undergone since that Miami triumph two-and-a-half years ago.

The Lando “No wins” Norris prior to that Miami success was full of introspection and self-deprecation. That “I’ll keep delivering” remark in the radio message speaks volumes about his understanding of his own capabilities.

Some may still argue that his championship last year perhaps wasn’t entirely warranted - as there was at least one competitor on the grid in 2025 who performed better. But these recent races have showcased Norris at his absolute best.

There’s a lot of chatter these days regarding how F1 2026 has minimized the impact drivers can have. Max Verstappen made headlines last week following his BBC interview, using Liam Lawson’s case to illustrate how the top drivers aren’t able to make as significant a difference.

That’s quite a bold statement to make, but Max certainly has a point. Lawson wasn’t anywhere near him during those two memorable weekends last year - and suddenly he’s scoring points under seemingly identical circumstances. However, that doesn’t account for the broader context. But it could theoretically stand as a perspective.

Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Lando Norris, McLaren

George Russell - as he now finds himself needing to provide explanations week after week - discussed driving styles during his 10-minute interaction with the media on Thursday. He named names. He implied that Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence this year must share similarities with Kimi’s dominance, suggesting they have comparable driving styles, and also included Lando among those benefiting from the regulatory changes.

However, Norris effectively debunks both theories.

It’s not just this year that he has started making Oscar Piastri appear average. That was already evident in 2025. This season, the gap is only widening. The Australian seems completely overshadowed by Norris, with the disparity between them being unmistakably clear - and perhaps even growing.

Because it’s genuinely challenging to recall many noteworthy performances from Piastri this year, unless you consider his stellar role in Google Pixel’s latest commercial, where he states: “Watch Oscar Piastri set fastest lap.”

There haven’t been many impressive laps from Piastri this season, yet Norris has delivered a plethora.

So something doesn’t quite align with Verstappen’s and Russell’s theories, after all. Norris is proving them both incorrect: he can indeed make a difference. And it’s not solely about driving style.

Let’s be honest, too. He’s out of the championship race this year. A comeback isn’t on the horizon - because runs like Verstappen’s from last year don’t occur every other Tuesday. And even if Toto “glass half empty” Wolff claims it’s too soon for Antonelli to contemplate the championship, his marketing team is likely already gearing up for merchandise launches and a championship tour for the young Italian star.

Lando Norris, McLaren

So there’s truly no reason to be disheartened by this VSC. Norris merely lost a win - one he doesn’t urgently require now, and one he will almost certainly achieve again very soon.

The most crucial aspect for him is that his team appears to be fully back in action. There’s something remarkable about that organization under Andrea Stella that is impossible not to admire. The manner in which McLaren now handles car development, methodically eliminating weaknesses, serves as a testament to how efficient its processes have become.

And Norris now exudes the impression of being the perfect product of that McLaren system. A driver with immense potential who has been refined and enhanced over time, engineered into the powerhouse he is today.

The F1 2026 season is essentially concluded. With an 81-point lead over his nearest competitor - who isn’t even Norris - Antonelli isn’t likely to squander it.

But for 2027, with McLaren regaining its stride and Norris carrying this level of confidence, it’s bound to be much tighter.

Being too quick will earn Norris many more victories in the future than it will cost him.