Kimi Antonelli delivered a masterclass at Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday, claiming victory in the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix to stretch his championship advantage as his Mercedes teammate George Russell was eliminated on the opening lap.
The Italian, who started from pole, held off a relentless challenge from Ferrari's Charles Leclerc to take the chequered flag by 1.9 seconds, securing his sixth win of the 2026 season and his second consecutive victory after Silverstone. Max Verstappen completed the podium in third for Red Bull.
Antonelli's triumph was far from straightforward. Verstappen launched superbly off the line, storming past the Mercedes driver at Eau Rouge on the opening lap. But Antonelli fought back almost immediately, reclaiming the lead and never relinquishing it despite the pressure of a Safety Car restart and a late push from Leclerc.
The race turned dramatic even before the first lap was complete. Lewis Hamilton, making his way through the field in his Ferrari, made contact with Mercedes' George Russell at the high-speed Eau Rouge complex, sending Russell spinning into the gravel trap and ending his race on the spot. The incident earned Hamilton a five-second time penalty and left Mercedes with just one car in contention.
Hamilton's afternoon went from bad to worse when Ferrari were penalised for an unsafe pit release during his stop under Virtual Safety Car on Lap 20. A mechanic was struck by Hamilton's car as he was released prematurely, though he was not injured. The stewards fined Ferrari €30,000, with €10,000 suspended for 12 months, and ordered the team to review its pit stop procedures.
Behind the podium finishers, Hamilton recovered to fourth despite his penalty, ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri in fifth. The drive of the day came from Isack Hadjar, who charged from the back of the grid to a remarkable sixth place. Lando Norris also produced a stellar recovery drive from 13th on the grid to seventh, followed by Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi), Arvid Lindblad and Franco Colapinto.
With his sixth victory of the campaign, Antonelli continues to build a commanding lead in the drivers' standings as the season approaches its halfway point. Mercedes' bittersweet weekend — victory for one driver, heartbreak for the other — leaves the constructors' battle finely poised.
Sources
- https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/antonelli-beats-leclerc-to-belgian-grand-prix-win-to-extend-title-lead-as-russell-retires.MAqSJSgXvRP6dLbwiRbWI
- https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/hamilton-penalty-for-unsafe-pit-release-in-belgian-grand-prix-confirmed.p8ItnzotleVFVAU50e08T
