Kimi Antonelli secured his sixth victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Belgian Grand Prix, held at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. The Mercedes driver finished ahead of Charles Leclerc, who took second place for Ferrari. Max Verstappen completed the podium for Red Bull.
The race saw an early retirement for Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate, George Russell. Russell crashed out on the opening lap following contact with Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari at Les Combes.
Russell reported a significant loss of battery power and straight-line speed out of Turn 1, stating he was ‘swamped’ by other cars. Hamilton received a five-second time penalty for causing the collision.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff indicated that a software issue affected all Mercedes engines, impacting some more severely than others, including Antonelli’s car. Russell expressed frustration over team radio regarding the car’s performance throughout the weekend.
Charles Leclerc led a substantial portion of the 44-lap race after benefiting from a Virtual Safety Car period for his pit stop. Antonelli, however, mounted a comeback, eventually overtaking Leclerc in the closing stages.
Leclerc finished 1.952 seconds behind Antonelli, securing valuable points for Ferrari. Despite anticipating straight-line speed disadvantages at Spa-Francorchamps, Ferrari demonstrated competitive race pace.
Hamilton finished fourth for Ferrari, despite the five-second penalty. He was also investigated post-race for an unsafe pit release where he made contact with a mechanic, but Ferrari received a fine, allowing him to retain his position.
Antonelli’s victory extends his championship lead over Russell to 50 points. Hamilton moved into second place in the drivers’ standings, now 45 points adrift of Antonelli.
The top ten finishers at the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix were: 1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), 2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), 5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren), 6. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), 7. Lando Norris (McLaren), 8. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi), 9. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls), 10. Franco Colapinto (Alpine).
The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, a 7.004-kilometer track, hosted the 44-lap event. The circuit is known for its elevation changes and challenging corners, including Eau Rouge and Raidillon.
