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Spanish GP Review: VSC or not to VSC

Sep 13, 2026 · 37m

Summary

This episode of Chequered Flag reviews the Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madrid circuit, where Kimi Antonelli secured his eighth win of the season despite benefiting from a lucky Virtual Safety Car timing that denied Lando Norris the victory. The hosts discuss Max Verstappen’s resilient second-place finish and the strategic errors that cost George Russell a podium, while also analyzing Oscar Piastri’s continued struggles to adapt to the new regulations. Additionally, the team evaluates the debut of the Madrid track, noting its lack of overtaking opportunities, and highlights strong performa…

Topics discussed

Sponsorship and introduction to the Spanish GP review Antonelli's mature drive and championship lead Antonelli interview: race strategy and future goals Championship outlook and Russell's engine penalty Verstappen's second place and Red Bull's resilience Verstappen's brake issues and track position dispute Verstappen interview: race analysis and Red Bull's pace Norris's frustration with the Virtual Safety Car McLaren's performance and Norris's adaptability Norris interview: bad luck and fair play Lincoln Navigator sponsorship segment Analysis of the VSC deployment and Norris's loss Debate on VSC rules and race rigging Leclerc's strategy and Ferrari's fourth place Leclerc's tire strategy and brake issues Track chaos comparison and Ferrari's hopes Russell's strategy error and pit stop decision Russell's disappointment and team strategy debate Top 5 finishers: Lawson and Colapinto's race Piastri's adaptation to new regulations Colapinto's progress and Alpine's points haul Lindblad's crash and team dynamics Circuit design and driving impressions Driver of the day and closing remarks Sign-off and EFL promotion Midas tire sponsorship
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