Toto Wolff thankful to 'racing gods' as Kimi Antonelli steals Spanish GP win

Toto Wolff has explained how the "racing gods" were on the side of Kimi Antonelli during his fortunate Spanish Grand Prix victory. 

Antonelli inherited the lead at the Madring after a fortunately timed pit-stop under the virtual safety car for Lance Stroll's stopped Aston Martin. 

Race leader Norris just missed the pit entry under VSC conditions, with Antonelli pitting under the caution, with Norris doing so once the race had gone green next time around, but the world champion lost 20 seconds of race time in pitting under green conditions. 

This meant both Antonelli and Max Verstappen undercut Norris, with the Italian cycling to the lead once Charles Leclerc pitted, having run long for the Ferrari.

The victory, the eighth of the season for the 20-year-old, means he has now opened up a 81-point lead over team-mate Geroge Russell, who finished fifth. 

Antonelli has now won more grands prix - eight - in 2026 than Russell has in his career, seven.

Reflecting on the race, Wolff broke down the sequence of events. 

Toto Wolff thankful to 'racing gods' as Kimi Antonelli steals Spanish GP win

"I think we've been mostly unlucky with virtual safety cars, and safety cars this year," Wolff told Sky Sports F1.

"Today the race gods were with us. We literally pulled Kimi in when the VSC came out, and it is unfortunate for McLaren because they were fast. But Kimi drove very, very well."

The article continues below. 

Wolff on Mercedes' decision to pit

With just a few seconds to decide to pit Antonelli under the VSC, Wolff spoke of the "three seconds" the team had to make its decision. 

"The process was great today. The strategy group had the VSC on their mind.

"Someone said: 'the Aston Martin won’t clear quickly’ and it was strategy to Peter Bonnington, Bono double-checked, and Bono to Kimi. 

"All of that talking within three seconds."