Kimi Antonelli wins Belgian Grand Prix to extend F1 championship lead

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing Reuters, reported that Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli won the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps on July 19, 2026, extending his lead in the Formula One drivers’ championship. The 19-year-old Italian took his sixth victory in 10 rounds, finishing ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the 44-lap race.

The result was especially damaging for Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate George Russell, who entered the race as his nearest title challenger. Russell spun into the gravel on the opening lap after contact with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton while trying to recover positions lost at the start. Hamilton went on to finish fourth after serving a five-second penalty for the collision, though Al Jazeera reported he was still under investigation for an unsafe pit release that could affect the final classification.

Leclerc finished 1.952 seconds behind Antonelli after briefly gaining an advantage through a pit stop during a virtual safety car period. Verstappen’s third place gave Red Bull its 300th Formula One podium. Other points finishers included McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in fifth, Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar in sixth after starting last, reigning champion Lando Norris in seventh, Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto in eighth, Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad in ninth and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto in 10th.

The win leaves Antonelli 45 points ahead of Hamilton and 50 clear of Russell, strengthening Mercedes’ position in a season in which the team has taken every pole position so far. Antonelli had started from pole and said the race was hard-fought after recent difficult rounds.