Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli secured his sixth victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Belgian Grand Prix. The win at Spa-Francorchamps further extended his lead in the drivers’ championship.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished second, with Max Verstappen taking third place for Red Bull. Antonelli now holds a 45-point advantage over teammate George Russell, who retired on the opening lap.
The 2026 technical regulations, designed with a ‘Formula Net Zero’ focus, continue to face criticism for their impact on classic circuits like Spa-Francorchamps. Issues with energy management, battery depletion mid-straight, and significant speed differentials were highlighted.
The requirement for a downshift through Raidillon exemplifies how the rules have altered historic corners, complicating overtakes. The Belgian Grand Prix is confirmed to become a ‘rotation race’ from the 2027 season, sharing its calendar slot with Barcelona.
Antonelli’s Spa victory marks his return to the top step after a period of mixed results since his Monaco win in early June. He previously secured five consecutive victories at the start of the 2026 season, demonstrating strong composure.
Conversely, George Russell’s retirement at Spa was his third non-score in six races, signaling a challenging phase in his season marked by inconsistency since Miami. His previous setbacks include a mechanical retirement in Canada due to a battery failure and a ‘wheel shield’ component failure at Silverstone.
Russell also faced scrutiny for a yellow flag incident in Austrian Grand Prix qualifying. The points gap between Antonelli and Russell, which was 25 points before Spa, has now extended to 50 points after the Belgian Grand Prix.
Russell has publicly attributed some performance deficit to a lack of straight-line speed compared to Antonelli. However, team analysis suggests this is primarily linked to his driving technique, specifically his tendency to demand more from the car earlier in the lap.
His retirement at Les Combes, attempting an outside overtake while losing positions on the Kemmel straight after contact with Lewis Hamilton, indicated a lapse in judgment under pressure.
Lando Norris, the 2025 World Champion, is experiencing a difficult 2026 season as McLaren’s car has struggled with overall downforce and tire degradation under the new regulations. At Spa, Norris qualified third but received a 10-place grid penalty for an unscheduled power electronics unit change, finishing seventh.
Despite McLaren’s performance limitations, Norris has maintained a significant advantage over teammate Oscar Piastri, with a 35-second gap separating them in Barcelona.
Speculation continues regarding Max Verstappen’s long-term future beyond his current Red Bull contract, which extends until the end of the 2028 season. A potential move to McLaren for the 2027 season or later has been discussed, though no official statements confirm active negotiations for 2026.
