Kimi Antonelli Leads the Charge in Madrid Ahead of Spanish Grand Prix

Kimi Antonelli heads to Madrid not just as championship leader, but as the man everyone else has to chase.

The Mercedes rookie has been ranked Formula 1’s form driver ahead of the first Spanish Grand Prix on the brand‑new Madring circuit, arriving in the capital with seven wins from 13 races and a commanding 66‑point cushion at the top of the standings, according to The National.

This is not a quiet rise. It is a charge.

In Monza, Antonelli delivered the kind of performance that defines a season. Nineteenth on the grid, first at the flag. Around Italy’s temple of speed, the young Italian carved his way through the field to become the first home winner at Monza since 1966. That result came straight after second place at Zandvoort, a run of form that has underpinned his status as the paddock’s standout force heading into Madrid.

Now comes the unknown: 22 corners, a fresh layout, and a circuit no one has raced on before.

Norris and Russell lead the chase

Behind Antonelli in The National’s ranking sits Lando Norris, the McLaren driver increasingly cast as the chief pursuer.

Norris arrives in Spain on the back of a win at Zandvoort and a gritty fourth place at Monza, where he climbed from eighth on the grid. His recent results have underlined McLaren’s growing threat, and the publication points to the Madring’s fast sections and sustained lateral loads as a natural fit for the car’s strengths. If the track rewards aerodynamic efficiency and high‑speed commitment, McLaren will expect to be right in the fight.

George Russell, Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate, is next in the chasing pack. Russell finished third in Zandvoort and then second at Monza, a pair of podiums that reflect both his consistency and the team’s step forward.

In its Spanish Grand Prix podium prediction, The National tips Russell for third place, highlighting the Mercedes car’s balance on circuits that mix different downforce demands. On a layout as varied and unfamiliar as Madring, that versatility could prove decisive.

Verstappen’s experience, Lindblad’s surge

Max Verstappen, the benchmark of recent seasons, is ranked just behind them. The Red Bull driver failed to finish his home race at Zandvoort, a rare blemish, but responded at Monza by charging from fifth on the grid to lead the race before ultimately crossing the line in third.

The National stresses that Verstappen’s experience may carry particular weight this weekend. When every driver is learning a new circuit from scratch, the ability to adapt quickly and read grip levels corner by corner becomes a weapon in itself.

The top 10 in the ranking is rounded out by a familiar mix of pedigree and promise: Lewis Hamilton, Pierre Gasly, Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc, Arvid Lindblad and Nico Hulkenberg all make the cut.

Lindblad’s presence is especially notable. Racing for Racing Bulls, the youngster has scored points in seven of the last eight races, quietly assembling one of the most impressive consistency streaks in the midfield. On a weekend expected to be “difficult and chaotic,” as the publication puts it, that kind of reliability could turn into something bigger.

And that is the backdrop to Madrid. A new circuit, 22 untested corners, and a title leader in Antonelli who has turned momentum into a habit. The question now is simple: on a track no one knows, can anyone finally knock him off his stride?