Istanbul / Ahmed Hassan / Anadolu

Italian Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes driver, strengthened his lead in the overall standings of the Formula 1 World Championship after winning the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

With this win, Antonelli (19 years old) regained his winning rhythm after three rounds where the lead went to other drivers, achieving his sixth win in ten rounds this season and extending his lead in the overall championship standings.

Antonelli became the first Italian to win the Belgian Grand Prix since Michele Alboreto in 1984 at the Zolder circuit, and the first driver from his country to win at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

Antonelli entered the race with a 25-point lead over Briton George Russell, and that gap doubled to 45 points over Lewis Hamilton, who moved up to second place, and 50 points over George Russell, who dropped to third.

The Italian driver finished the race less than two seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc, Ferrari driver from Monaco, while Dutchman Max Verstappen, four-time world champion, completed the podium for Red Bull.

Antonelli started from first place but lost the lead to Leclerc during his pit stop, before regaining it from him with ten laps to go in the 44-lap race.

British driver Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari driver, finished fourth despite receiving a five-second penalty for colliding with Mercedes driver George Russell on the first lap, which caused Russell to retire from the race.

Australian Oscar Piastri, McLaren driver, came fifth, while Algerian Isack Hadjar, Red Bull driver, placed sixth after starting from last on the grid.

Reigning champion Briton Lando Norris finished seventh for McLaren after starting from 13th, while Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto earned more points for Audi by finishing eighth.

Briton Arvid Lindblad finished ninth for Racing Bulls, and Argentine Franco Colapinto rounded out the points scorers in 10th for Alpine, owned by Renault.