Virtual Safety Car timing cost Lando Norris the Madrid win, leaving him third
Norris lost a near-certain Madrid victory when a VSC was called as he had just passed the pit lane entrance; rivals pitted with less time loss and McLaren’s slower stop compounded the damage, costing him the win.
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Norris led the race comfortably from pole.
A VSC was triggered while Norris had already passed the pit-lane entry.
Competitors who had not passed the pit entry pitted with a reduced time penalty and gained track position.
McLaren also had a slow front-right stop, increasing Norris’s time loss.
Norris dropped from the lead after his pit stop and slow tyre change.
He recovered to finish third behind Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen.
The result prompted post-race debate about the fairness of VSC timing.