Kimi Antonelli Wins F1 Belgian Grand Prix 2026; Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen Complete Podium

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli converted his pole position into a hard-fought victory at the 2026 Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix. The Italian championship leader overcame a strategy deficit during a Virtual Safety Car period to secure his sixth win of the season at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crossed the line in second place, finished 1.9 seconds behind the winner, while Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen secured third to complete the podium. Charles Leclerc Claims F1 British GP 2026 Victory; George Russell and Lewis Hamilton Finish Second and Third.

Kimi Antonelli Claims Belgian GP

Starting from pole position, Antonelli initially controlled the opening stint before structural shifts disrupted the race order. A mid-race Virtual Safety Car (VSC) period allowed Scuderia Ferrari to execute a lower-cost pit stop for Leclerc, allowing the Monegasque driver to emerge from the pit lane two seconds ahead of the Mercedes.

Antonelli remained composed despite losing the track lead. On lap 33, the 19-year-old capitalised on a strong exit out of the La Source hairpin, deploying his straight-line speed to overtake Leclerc at the end of the Kemmel Straight. From there, Antonelli managed tyre degradation and a track-limits warning to comfortably secure the chequered flag.

Podium Finishes

The event brought immediate heartbreak for the second Mercedes entry of George Russell. Having suffered a battery charging failure at turn one, Russell dropped positions along the Kemmel Straight before making heavy side-by-side contact with former teammate Lewis Hamilton. The collision spun Russell into the gravel trap, ending his race on the opening lap and severely damaging his championship aspirations.

Stewards evaluated the incident and handed Hamilton a five-second time penalty for causing the collision. Despite carrying minor front-wing damage, the seven-time world champion managed to cross the finish line in fourth place, holding off late pressure from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. India Targets Formula 1 Return by 2028, Sports Ministry Sets Up Task Force: Report.

Verstappen Fights to Third From Row One

Max Verstappen enjoyed a competitive opening lap, briefly storming past Antonelli at Eau Rouge to claim the initial lead. However, the Red Bull car struggled with tyre wear during the second stint on harder compounds, forcing the Dutchman to fall back into a defensive race. Verstappen successfully managed his pace thereafter to hold off Hamilton and preserve a stable podium finish.

Further down the order, Isack Hadjar produced an impressive recovery drive, climbing from the back row of the grid to finish sixth. Lando Norris followed in seventh place after gaining six places from his starting position. Gabriel Bortoleto picked up valuable constructor points for the Audi F1 Team in eighth, while Arvid Lindblad and Franco Colapinto rounded out the top ten positions.  India Targets Formula 1 Return by 2028, Sports Ministry Sets Up Task Force: Report.

F1 2026 Drivers' Standings

F1 2026 Constructors' Standings

Antonelli’s masterclass remains the defining story of the weekend, reasserting Mercedes' dominance as the 2026 season edges closer to its summer break.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 19, 2026 08:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).