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Antonelli Dominates Spa to Extend Substantial Championship Lead
Andrea Kimi Antonelli took his sixth victory of the season with a dominant win in the Belgian Grand Prix, further solidifying his lead at the top of the championship.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-07-19T19:17:01.000Z - 2 min read
Andrea Kimi Antonelli impressively claimed victory in the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver beat Charles Leclerc to secure his sixth win of the season, significantly strengthening his position at the top of the drivers' standings. Max Verstappen finished third at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
The Italian demonstrated strong race pace and convincingly overtook and held off Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, who may have led in the early stages. Antonelli crossed the finish line after 44 laps nearly two seconds ahead of Leclerc. Verstappen consolidated third place, over eleven seconds behind the winner.
Behind the top three, Isack Hadjar delivered a strong performance by driving his Red Bull to sixth place, just ahead of Lando Norris. Gabriel Bortoleto of Audi and Arvid Lindblad of Racing Bulls also finished in the points in eighth and ninth respectively. Franco Colapinto completed the top ten for Alpine.
With this victory, Antonelli has further expanded his championship lead. He now stands at 204 points, a massive 45 points clear of his closest rival, Lewis Hamilton, who finished this race in fourth. George Russell, who suffered a difficult start, retains third place in the standings, followed by Charles Leclerc in fourth.
Mercedes also strengthened its lead in the constructors' championship. The Brackley-based team has now accumulated 358 points, representing a comfortable 73-point lead over Ferrari. McLaren follows in third place, with Red Bull behind them in the battle for the 2026 constructors' title.
The race saw several retirements, including George Russell, who had to give up on the opening lap following a collision. Lance Stroll and Sergio Pérez also failed to reach the finish line, both due to mechanical issues or an early retirement. Valtteri Bottas and Fernando Alonso finished one and two laps down, respectively.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli's impressive performance did not go unnoticed by the fans. In a Driver of the Weekend poll, where fans could vote for the driver who impressed the most, the Mercedes driver captured a staggering 50% of the votes. Isack Hadjar also drew considerable praise for his sixth-place finish in the Red Bull, garnering 21% of the vote to cap a strong weekend.