Spanish Grand Prix: How VSC cost Lando Norris race win

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Lando Norris is now five points third-placed Lewis Hamilton in the drivers' championship

F1 Correspondent in Madrid Published 13 September 2026 Lando Norris says he was "insanely unlucky" to lose what seemed like a certain win in the Spanish Grand Prix because of the timing of a virtual safety car.

McLaren's Norris was leading comfortably when the VSC was called, seconds after he had passed the pit lane entry.

That allowed Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull's Max Verstappen to pit under the VSC, saving time, while the caution period ended before Norris could make it around to the pits again.

Of the VSC, Norris said: "It is a rule that should not define a whole race."

"I was the only one on the whole grid that didn't get the chance to do the pit stop," he said. "That's just unfortunate.