Kimi Antonelli returns to lead in Formula 1. The Italian driver has won the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps and extends his lead at the top of the World Championship after a race that ended with tension until the last lap.
The Mercedes driver crossed the finish line ahead of Charles Leclerc, who managed to get within less than two seconds in the final stretch, but did not have enough margin to launch a definitive attack.
The final difference was 1.9 seconds. Just enough to keep the excitement alive until the end, but sufficient for Antonelli to secure a victory of enormous sporting and psychological value.
Sixth victory of the season
The win in Spa represents the sixth victory of the year for Antonelli, confirming his status as the championship leader on one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar.
The Italian had already struck the first blow on Saturday with an authoritative pole position. In the race, he converted that starting position into a victory that weighs more due to the context: Spa always punishes mistakes, and this Sunday the World Championship lost one of its major contenders.
Antonelli not only wins another race. He wins on a big circuit, against direct rivals, and on a day when his teammate and pursuer in the standings scored no points.
Leclerc falls just short
Charles Leclerc finished second and once again placed Ferrari in the fight for victory.
The Monegasque pushed until the end and closed the race just 1.9 seconds behind Antonelli. His pace in the final laps kept the possibility of a tighter finish open, but the World Championship leader managed to control the distance at the decisive moment.
For Leclerc, the result confirms that Ferrari has the speed to contest races, although he could not capitalize on the pressure with an overtaking.
Russell's KO changes the reading of the Championship
The other big news of the race was the retirement of George Russell.
The Brit arrived in Belgium as Antonelli's most direct rival in the overall standings. His KO in Spa leaves him without points on a day when the leader maximizes the result.
The blow is twofold: sporting and psychological. Russell not only loses ground in the championship, but also sees how Antonelli turns a risky race into a perfect opportunity to open a gap.
Spa may remain as one of those Sundays that explain a Championship when December arrives.
Mercedes comes out strengthened, but with two faces
For Mercedes, the Belgian GP leaves an uneven reading.
On one hand, Antonelli confirms that the team has a car to win on demanding circuits and that his bet on the Italian is already a championship reality. On the other hand, Russell's retirement prevents a perfect result and widens the internal gap between its two drivers.
Antonelli's victory strengthens the team in the fight for the title, but also places Russell in an increasingly uncomfortable position within the battle for the World Championship.
Spa crowns the leader
The Belgian Grand Prix usually separates routine victories from significant victories. Antonelli's belongs to the second group.
He won from a position of strength, resisted Ferrari's pressure, and took advantage of the retirement of his direct rival. The race leaves a clear image: Antonelli is no longer just a promise or a surprise at the start of the season. He is the driver who sets the pace of the championship.
After Spa, the World Championship leans more towards the Italian. And the question begins to change: it is no longer whether Antonelli can fight for the title, but who can prevent him from winning it.