BELGIAN GP: ANTONELLI MAKES HISTORY (AGAIN) AT SPA

Cavalieri Garage Magazine

Jul 20

2 min read

Kimi Antonelli returned to Victory Lane in spectacular fashion, writing another remarkable chapter in Italian Formula 1 history. The Mercedes driver dominated the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix, ending a three-race winless streak while securing the sixth victory of both his career and the season. At just 19 years old, Antonelli also became the first Italian driver to win at Spa-Francorchamps since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

The Mercedes youngster delivered an almost flawless weekend in the Ardennes. After claiming pole position, Antonelli controlled the race with outstanding pace, only briefly losing the lead when a Virtual Safety Car shuffled the strategy during the pit-stop cycle and allowed Charles Leclerc's Ferrari to move ahead.

The championship leader quickly responded. Thanks to the impressive speed of the Mercedes W17, Antonelli reeled Leclerc back in before reclaiming the lead with a decisive on-track pass, producing one of the highlights of the afternoon. The two drivers remained locked together for several laps, but no further position changes followed.

Ferrari nevertheless leaves Belgium with an extremely valuable runner-up finish, a result that exceeded pre-race expectations at a circuit traditionally considered unfavorable for the SF-26. Max Verstappen completed the podium by bringing his Red Bull home in third.

Lewis Hamilton endured a far more complicated afternoon. The Ferrari veteran recovered to fourth despite carrying minor damage and serving a five-second penalty following the opening-lap incident that forced George Russell's Mercedes out of the race.

Antonelli's victory further strengthens his championship lead. The Italian now holds a 44-point advantage over Hamilton, 50 over Russell, and 78 over Leclerc, while Ferrari trims Mercedes' lead in the Constructors' Championship by five points, reducing the gap to 73.