Kimi Antonelli wins Belgian Grand Prix to extend F1 championship lead

By Reuters

This report was published on 19 Jul 202619 Jul 2026.

The 19-year-old Italian has been a dominant force this season, with his consistent performances putting him firmly in control of the championship race.

Kimi Antonelli claimed victory at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday for Mercedes, extending his Formula One championship lead to 45 points over Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, while his teammate George Russell endured a difficult day.

Russell had been the 19-year-old Italian’s closest rival before the start at Spa-Francorchamps, but the Briton spun off into the gravel on the opening lap after a collision with Hamilton while trying to make up places lost at lights out.

Recommended Stories

list of 4 items

• list 1 of 4Spain vs Argentina: Five key factors that could decide World Cup final
• list 2 of 4World Cup 2026 final: Closing ceremony and half-time show – what to know
• list 3 of 4The story behind football stars Messi and Yamal’s viral photo
• list 4 of 4Why is Argentina’s football team so white?

end of list

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was second in the 44-lap race, 1.952 seconds behind after leading, thanks to a pit stop while a virtual safety car was deployed, with Max Verstappen third to give Red Bull their 300th Formula One podium.

Hamilton finished fourth, despite serving a five-second penalty for the collision with Russell, but remained under investigation for an unsafe release from a pit stop that could drop him to fifth and further stretch Antonelli’s lead.

Antonelli secured his sixth win in ten rounds this season, now sitting 50 points clear of Russell. He also continued Mercedes' perfect record of pole positions in 2026 by qualifying first.

“It’s great to be back on the top step after a few difficult rounds,” said Antonelli, who had drawn a blank in two of the past three rounds.

“It was a hard-fought race. We lost first place with the VSC but then we managed to make our way back.

“The momentum was always there. It was just about getting the results,” he added. “Today we were a bit lucky with what happened in terms of the championship but you have to take every opportunity because we saw how much it can swing.”

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished fifth, with Isack Hadjar sixth for Red Bull from last on the grid. Reigning champion Lando Norris was seventh for McLaren after starting 13th due to a 10-place grid drop.

Gabriel Bortoleto brought more points for Audi in eighth place, with Arvid Lindblad ninth for Racing Bulls and Argentine Franco Colapinto completing the scoring in 10th place for Renault-owned Alpine.

The collision between Hamilton and Russell on the opening lap significantly impacted the standings, with Russell's retirement giving Antonelli a major advantage. Hamilton's potential penalty for an unsafe pit release could further widen the gap, setting up a crucial phase in the title battle. With a 50-point cushion over his closest rival, Antonelli now has a commanding lead with 14 rounds remaining.