Kimi Antonelli delivered a standout performance at Spa-Francorchamps to win the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix, overhauling Charles Leclerc late in the race to secure victory and strengthen his Formula 1 championship lead.
The Mercedes driver briefly lost the lead at the start when Max Verstappen, starting alongside him on the front row, swept past on the exit of La Source. Antonelli responded immediately, reclaiming first place on the Kemmel Straight and taking control of the opening phase.
The race’s turning point came during the pit strategy battle. After Antonelli switched to hard tyres, a virtual safety car on lap 20 to clear debris at Blanchimont created a cheaper pit-stop opportunity for Ferrari. Leclerc used the chance to pit and emerged ahead of both Antonelli and Verstappen, taking over the lead.
Leclerc then stretched his advantage after clearing Lando Norris, who had started on hard tyres and was running an alternative strategy. Antonelli also needed several laps to get past the McLaren, leaving him around three seconds behind the Ferrari.
However, the Mercedes driver showed the pace he had demonstrated throughout the weekend. He quickly closed the gap and was helped when Leclerc was slowed by Valtteri Bottas’ Cadillac through Turn 15. Antonelli seized the opportunity, attacking up the hill and completing the pass into Turn 5 on the following lap.
Russell-Hamilton clash reshapes race
Leclerc remained within striking distance for several laps, staying close enough to threaten a comeback with the help of DRS. But Antonelli managed his pace expertly, gradually building the gap beyond one second and removing the Ferrari driver’s opportunity to launch another attack.
The Italian teenager eventually crossed the line 1.9 seconds ahead of Leclerc to claim victory, while Mercedes endured a mixed day after George Russell’s early retirement.
Russell’s race ended on the opening lap following contact with Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari. The Mercedes driver had been fighting with Leclerc through the opening corners but suffered a loss of battery power midway down the Kemmel Straight, leaving him vulnerable to cars around him.
As Russell and Hamilton went side-by-side into Les Combes, a snap of oversteer from the Ferrari sent the two cars into contact, pitching Russell into the gravel and ending his race.
Verstappen completed the podium in third, although he was unable to match the pace of the leading pair after losing ground during the virtual safety car pit sequence.
Hamilton recovered to finish fourth despite receiving a five-second penalty for the Russell collision. He also faces a possible further penalty after an unsafe release incident during his pit stop. Oscar Piastri followed closely behind in fifth, having earlier suffered minor damage after contact with Leclerc.
Midfield battles deliver late drama
Isack Hadjar produced a strong strategic drive to finish sixth, benefiting from early tyre changes and a later switch to lightly used hard tyres during the virtual safety car period.
Norris’s alternative strategy was compromised by a slow pit stop, including a lengthy left-rear wheel change that dropped him behind Gabriel Bortoleto.
The McLaren driver recovered to pass the Brazilian and finish seventh, with Bortoleto taking eighth.
Arvid Lindblad secured ninth after surviving an investigation involving possible contact with team-mate Liam Lawson, while Franco Colapinto completed the points positions with an impressive two-car pass on Gasly and Lawson along the Kemmel Straight.
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