Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli won the Spanish Grand Prix after McLaren’s Lando Norris lost out because of the bad timing of a virtual safety car.

Norris was leading comfortably from pole position when the VSC was called on lap 15.

The timing was terrible for the world champion – he had already passed the pit exit when the VSC was called.

That meant Antonelli and Verstappen were able to pit under the VSC, saving time, while the caution period ended before Norris could make it around to the pits again.

He did then come in but, to make matters worse, the stop was slow and he rejoined in fifth place.

Norris was able to recover only to third around this track where overtaking is next to impossible.

Antonelli’s eighth win in 14 races this year puts an even tighter stranglehold on the championship for the Italian.

He is now 81 points ahead of team-mate George Russell, who finished fifth after a difficult race on a confusing strategy, and 101 clear of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who retired early on with brake failure.

The key stories of the maiden race on the new Madring were:

Norris’ terrible luck with the VSC depriving him of a likely third victory this year after a brilliant pole on Saturday

Antonelli’s fortune in a season that is surrendering to him as well as him grabbing it by the throat with his performances

The difficulty of overtaking on a new track designed from a clean sheet of paper, yet without obvious overtaking places

Norris knew that holding on to the lead would be tough from pole but he robustly defended from Antonelli into the first corner.

The Mercedes driver cut the chicanes at Turns One and Two, and again at Turns Five and Six, each time getting into the lead, each time having to give it back.

After that, Norris set about building a lead and looked to be in control of the race as he extended his lead progressively, moving 5.6 seconds clear 10 laps in, and 6.2 when Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin stopped at Turn 20 with brake failure.

The VSC was called, but Norris had already reached the pit straight, while Antonelli and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen had not and could come in.

Norris came in the next time around, but the VSC ended a couple of corners before he reached the entry to the pits, allowing the cars still on track to get back up to racing speed – a stop under a safety car saves a driver about 10 seconds over one under green-flag conditions.

To make matters worse, McLaren’s mechanics had trouble with both the right-hand side wheels, and the stop took seven seconds rather than the usual two.

Norris came out in fifth place, 6.3secs behind Russell, and his hopes of winning were gone.

The Great North Run (GNR) returned to Tyneside this weekend, with 63,000 runners taking part in the world’s biggest half marathon – including Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

England star and Newcastle captain Dan Burn rang the starter’s bell, with famous faces including football personality Chris Kamara and fitness coach Joe Wicks taking on the challenge.

The 13.

1-mile (21km) event saw runners and wheelchair users race from Newcastle through Gateshead and South Tyneside, before finishing in South Shields.

Britons David Weir and Melanie Woods won the men’s and women’s elite wheelchair races respectively.

Brigid Kosgei won the elite women’s contest and Zouhair Talbi won the men’s race.

The half marathon is in its 45th year and raises about £25m for charity each time.

Tens of thousands of people lined the route on the very warm, sunny day.

Runners were treated to a Red Arrows flyover above the Tyne Bridge at the start and again at the end of the route on The Leas in South Shields.

The prime minister said he was “very happy” with his finish time of under two hours – 01.57 – and was raising money for North East charity Changing Lives, which he visited last month to launch a national drive to end rough sleeping.

“You see the causes people are running for, all pulling together for the bigger cause,” Burnham said. “It’s just a day that reminds you how good this country is when it’s together like this.

“This part of the world, it doesn’t half shine on a day like this. The warmth of the people comes out – the people in the race with you, the people on the sidelines.”

As always, runners donned a variety of costumes in the bid to raise funds for good causes. Among them were nuns, horses and a pair of ovaries.

The Tyne Bridge is undergoing a major restoration project so large parts of it were covered in scaffolding.

Several planned road closures were in place across the day, meanwhile a burst water main at the roundabout near the A189 Redheugh Bridge caused traffic disruption around Gatehead.

Saturday’s Mini and Junior events on Newcastle’s Quayside saw 13,000 young people take on courses ranging from 50m (164ft) to 4km (2.5 miles).

Gladiators Alex Gray (Apollo), Emily Steel (Dynamite) and Matty Campbell (Bionic) rang Saturday’s starters’ bell alongside GNR mascot Tyney the Tortoise.

According to organisers, this year’s Mini and Junior events were the biggest in its 40-year history.

They gave youngsters “the chance to experience their own Great North Run moment – creating memories, soaking up the atmosphere and, for many, getting a taste of what the main event feels like”, they added.

The 2026 medal was designed by local artist Alex Mulholland – known as Mul – and features the Tyne Bridge.

“The design celebrates the stories behind each runner, and the incredible causes that inspire so many people to take on the event,” he said.

Veteran US tennis star Serena Williams has disclosed that being heard by medical professionals after experiencing life-threatening childbirth complications literally saved her life.

She emphasizes the importance of patient advocacy and medical listening, pointing out profound healthcare disparities affecting Black women.

In a chat, the 44-year-old tennis legend opened up about her experience after undergoing life-threatening birth complications and how it has opened her eyes to broader issues in women’s health care.

“You know, when I told my story, I didn’t realize how many people could relate,” Williams shared during a panel at the Forbes Power Women’s Summit 2026.

“And then at first I thought it was just a minority problem, but then I realized it’s a women’s problem.”

“So many women from every single background had a nightmare’s tale of their birth, you know? And so— and then it boiled down to I thought, ‘Well, gosh, if men were giving birth, they would have sweets [and] like all kinds of medicines,’ ” she jokingly added. “So it wouldn’t be the same problem at all.”

“I knew something was wrong with me and it was super important that I was heard. Thankfully, my doctor listened to me. The nurses did, but I was so fortunate enough to have a doctor that did and literally saved my life.

“What these women are doing is they’re really letting us know that women’s healthcare is so important, and healthcare in general, because also we’re talking about women who take care of the kids, you know, I take care of my kids mostly.

“With the program, we’re able to actually solve a lot of issues, make, like I said, make those connections that are really vital, that are really important to open so many doors,” Williams continued. Because every time we open a door, we’re solving another problem that’s closer to helping us all in this room and helping our kids.”