SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium — Kimi Antonelli delivered a commanding performance at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, overcoming a mid-race setback to claim his sixth victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season and extend his championship lead to 45 points.
The Mercedes driver started from pole position but lost the lead to Max Verstappen on the opening lap as the Dutchman stormed through Eau Rouge. Antonelli quickly retaliated, reclaiming position down the Kemmel Straight before the race took a dramatic turn for his teammate George Russell.
Russell, who entered the weekend as one of Antonelli's closest title rivals, made contact with Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari at La Source on the first lap, spinning into the gravel trap and retiring on the spot. The incident — which earned Hamilton a five-second time penalty — proved pivotal in the championship picture, as Russell left Belgium 50 points adrift of his teammate.
A virtual safety car period allowed Charles Leclerc to undercut Antonelli during the pit-stop cycle, putting the Ferrari driver into the lead. But Antonelli, showing the composure that has defined his sophomore F1 season, reeled in Leclerc and powered past with ten laps remaining, crossing the line 1.952 seconds ahead.
"It's great to be back on the top step after obviously a few difficult rounds," said Antonelli, whose previous win came at the Monaco Grand Prix. "The momentum has always been there despite what happened in the previous races, and that's why you just need to take one weekend at a time."
Leclerc held on for second place, denying Verstappen a shot at the runner-up spot. Verstappen took third after a spirited drive that saw him briefly lead the race on the opening lap, while Hamilton recovered to fourth despite his penalty for the Russell collision and an unsafe release investigation. Oscar Piastri completed the top five for McLaren.
Isack Hadjar delivered a remarkable drive from the pit lane to finish sixth, ahead of Lando Norris, Gabriel Bortoleto, Arvid Lindblad, and Franco Colapinto. Lance Stroll (gearbox) and Sergio Perez (mechanical issue) joined Russell as retirements.
With six Grand Prix wins, Antonelli now sits joint-second on the all-time list of Italian Formula 1 winners, tied with the legendary Alberto Ascari — a two-time world champion who won 13 races in the early 1950s. Only Ascari remains ahead of the 19-year-old Mercedes star.
After the race, Antonelli dedicated the win to his father Marco, former sportscar racer, whose birthday fell on Saturday.
Sources
- https://apnews.com/article/f1-belgian-grand-prix-spa-antonelli-5aca7d6298b9e2ec265d0d9b662ccb8b
- https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/antonelli-beats-leclerc-to-belgian-grand-prix-win-to-extend-title-lead-as-russell-retires.MAqSJSgXvRP6dLbwiRbWI
