Kimi Antonelli claimed an impressive victory at the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix, delivering another standout performance for Mercedes after an action-packed race at Spa-Francorchamps filled with incidents, penalties, and strategic twists.
The young Italian started from pole position but immediately came under pressure from four-time world champion Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver made a strong launch and briefly took the lead on the opening lap, but Antonelli remained composed and eventually reclaimed first place before pulling away to secure his sixth Formula 1 victory.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc produced another strong drive to finish second, crossing the line just under two-tenths of a second behind Antonelli after a tense finish. Verstappen completed the podium in third, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton recovered to finish fourth despite receiving a five-second penalty during the race. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri completed the top five after surviving multiple on-track incidents.
The biggest talking point came on the opening lap when Hamilton and Mercedes driver George Russell collided while battling for position. As the pair fought through Turn 5, Hamilton experienced a moment of oversteer just as Russell attempted an overtake around the outside. Contact between the two cars sent Russell into the gravel trap, ending his race almost immediately and bringing out the safety car.
Russell’s retirement dealt a significant blow to his championship campaign, while Hamilton was later handed a five-second time penalty after the FIA stewards ruled him responsible for causing the collision.
Hamilton’s afternoon remained eventful as he was later involved in another close encounter with Piastri. Although the Ferrari and McLaren briefly made contact, the FIA instead reviewed an incident involving Leclerc before deciding that no further action was required. Piastri continued without major damage and remained firmly in contention for a strong points finish.
A virtual safety car on lap 20 created an important strategic opportunity for Ferrari. The Scuderia took advantage by bringing both Leclerc and Hamilton into the pits during the neutralised period. Hamilton served his time penalty during the stop, although the pit lane visit nearly resulted in contact with one of Ferrari’s mechanics after a difficult release.
The unsafe release incident is set to be reviewed by FIA stewards after the race, leaving Hamilton’s fourth-place finish subject to further investigation.
Behind the leading five, Isack Hadjar secured sixth place for Red Bull ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris in seventh. Audi celebrated another encouraging result with Gabriel Bortoleto finishing eighth, while Arvid Lindblad scored valuable points for Racing Bulls in ninth. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto rounded out the top ten.
Pierre Gasly narrowly missed out on points in 11th, followed by Liam Lawson, Nico Hulkenberg, Oliver Bearman, Alex Albon, Carlos Sainz, and Esteban Ocon. Valtteri Bottas finished one lap behind the leaders in 18th, while Fernando Alonso crossed the line two laps down in 19th.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, Cadillac’s Sergio Perez, and Mercedes’ George Russell were the three drivers who failed to reach the finish, with Russell’s race ending after the dramatic first-lap collision that shaped much of the afternoon’s action. Antonelli’s victory further strengthens his momentum in the championship as Formula 1 heads to the next round following another unforgettable race in Belgium.
