Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has been disqualified from the final classification of the Belgian Grand Prix following post-race technical inspections by FIA officials, dramatically reshuffling the race results and promoting Red Bull’s Max Verstappen onto the podium.
Leclerc had crossed the finish line in second place after delivering an impressive drive at Spa-Francorchamps, finishing behind Mercedes race winner Kimi Antonelli. The Monegasque driver appeared to have secured another valuable haul of championship points for Ferrari after holding off intense pressure from Verstappen during the closing stages of the race.
However, hours after the chequered flag, the FIA confirmed that Leclerc’s Ferrari had failed a routine post-race technical inspection. As a result, the stewards ruled that the car did not comply with Formula 1’s Technical Regulations, leading to Leclerc’s exclusion from the official race classification.
The exact nature of the technical infringement was outlined in the FIA stewards’ decision, with Ferrari representatives attending the hearing before the verdict was announced. Although the team acknowledged the findings, the disqualification dealt a major blow to both Leclerc’s championship campaign and Ferrari’s position in the constructors’ standings.
The decision elevated Max Verstappen into second place, handing the reigning world champion an unexpected podium finish after what had initially seemed to be a frustrating afternoon. Verstappen had started near the front of the grid and briefly challenged for victory in the opening stages before ultimately settling for third on the road.
With Leclerc removed from the results, the Dutchman inherited second place, while the driver who originally finished fourth was promoted onto the final step of the podium.
Mercedes enjoyed an even stronger outcome following the revised classification, with Antonelli’s victory remaining unaffected. The young Italian continued his remarkable season by securing another race win, further strengthening his position in the championship battle and extending Mercedes’ momentum during the 2026 campaign.
For Ferrari, the disappointment was significant. Leclerc’s disqualification erased what had been one of the team’s strongest results of the weekend and highlighted the importance of complying with the FIA’s strict technical regulations. The lost points could prove costly as the fight for both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships intensifies.
Speaking before the stewards’ decision was made public, Leclerc had praised his team’s strategy and the balance of the SF-26 throughout the race. His celebrations, however, were cut short by the post-race investigation, leaving Ferrari to assess the circumstances that led to the rule breach.
The revised Belgian Grand Prix results now see Antonelli officially credited with victory, Verstappen promoted to second place, and the remainder of the field moving up one position behind them.
The dramatic post-race development serves as another reminder that Formula 1 results are never truly final until every technical inspection has been completed and the FIA has officially confirmed the classification. For Ferrari, it marks a painful end to what had looked like a highly successful weekend, while Verstappen and Red Bull leave Spa with an unexpected boost in both points and momentum as the championship battle heads into the next round.
