Antonelli Secures Belgian GP Victory, Extends Championship Lead to 45 Points

Mercedes driver clinched his sixth win of the season as teammate George Russell exited early, while Lewis Hamilton faced post-race investigations.

Kimi Antonelli claimed victory at the Belgian Grand Prix for Mercedes on Sunday, strengthening his Formula One championship position by 45 points over Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. The result marked a pivotal moment for the 19-year-old Italian, who capitalized on a collision between Hamilton and Russell on the opening lap that ended the British driver’s race.

Russell, Antonelli’s closest title rival entering the race, spun into the gravel after contact with Hamilton while attempting to recover from a poor start. Hamilton later served a five-second penalty for the incident but finished fourth, remaining under scrutiny for an alleged unsafe release during a pit stop that could cost him additional positions.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounded out the podium in second, 1.952 seconds behind Antonelli, following a strategic pit stop during a virtual safety car period. Max Verstappen completed the top three for Red Bull, securing the team’s 300th Formula One podium finish. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar (from last on the grid) finished fifth and sixth, respectively, while reigning champion Lando Norris took seventh after a 10-place grid penalty.

The win marked Antonelli’s sixth of the 2026 season, extending his lead over Russell to 50 points. Mercedes maintained its dominance in qualifying, with Antonelli securing pole position to continue the team’s clean sweep of front-row starts this year.

“It’s great to be back on the top step after a few difficult rounds,” Antonelli said, referencing his winless streak in two of the prior three races. “We lost first place with the VSC but then we managed to make our way back. The momentum was always there. Today we were a bit lucky with the championship situation, but you have to take every opportunity.”

Gabriel Bortoleto and Arvid Lindblad added points for Audi and Racing Bulls in eighth and ninth, while Franco Colapinto rounded out the top 10 for Alpine. The outcome significantly bolstered Antonelli’s title aspirations amid tightening competition.

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