Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli claimed a commanding victory at the 2026 Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix on 19 July at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, strengthening his lead in the drivers’ championship. The Italian crossed the finish line in 1:24:42.479, finishing ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen after another composed drive from pole position.
Antonelli controlled much of the race despite strategic pressure from Leclerc, who briefly moved ahead following a Virtual Safety Car pit sequence. Mercedes responded with a well-timed strategy that allowed Antonelli to reclaim the lead during the closing stages, where he managed the gap to secure his sixth victory of the 2026 season.
Leclerc finished second, just 1.952 seconds behind the race winner, while Verstappen completed the podium in third, 11.586 seconds adrift. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton recovered to fourth despite receiving a five-second time penalty following an opening-lap collision with Mercedes teammate George Russell, whose race ended immediately after the incident. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri rounded out the top five with another valuable points finish.
Antonelli’s victory further cemented Mercedes’ position at the top of both championships. The Italian has now won six of the first ten races of the season, extending his advantage in the drivers’ standings while Mercedes increased its lead in the constructors’ championship following another strong weekend at Spa-Francorchamps.
Standout Performances
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes): Winner in 1:24:42.479.
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): Finished 2nd, +1.952s.
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull): Claimed 3rd, +11.586s.
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari): Recovered to 4th despite a time penalty.
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren): Completed the top five.
The decisive moment came after the Virtual Safety Car period, when Mercedes executed a strategy that enabled Antonelli to retake the lead from Leclerc. From there, the championship leader controlled the closing laps to secure victory despite late pressure from the Ferrari driver.
Race Statistics
- Championship: Formula 1 World Championship
- Race: Belgian Grand Prix
- Date: 19 July 2026
- Venue: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
- Winner: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Winning Time: 1:24:42.479
- Top Five:
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +1.952s
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +11.586s
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +17.245s
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +18.988s