Kimi Antonelli won the Belgian Grand Prix for Mercedes on Sunday, securing his sixth victory of the 2026 season. Starting from pole position after beating Max Verstappen in qualifying, the 19-year-old Italian driver ended a winless streak that had lasted since Monaco in early June.
The victory allowed Antonelli to re-establish a comfortable championship lead, extending his advantage to 45 points over Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton.
The race proved to be a bleak day for Antonelli's teammate and closest title rival, George Russell. Russell retired from the competition on the opening lap after a collision with Hamilton sent his Mercedes spinning off into the gravel.
Prior to the start, Russell had secured third place on the grid following a penalty for McLaren's Lando Norris. Norris was forced to start from 13th place after McLaren replaced an electronic part on his car, while Charles Leclerc started fourth for Ferrari.