Andrea Kimi Antonelli wins Belgian Grand Prix as George Russell crashes out

Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured his sixth victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, July 19, 2026. The Mercedes driver’s win at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit further distanced him in the championship standings, while his teammate George Russell saw his title prospects take a significant hit following an early exit.

The race began with immediate drama as Max Verstappen briefly challenged Antonelli for the lead on the opening lap. The Italian recovered quickly, reclaiming the top position on the Kemmel Straight. Further back in the pack, the opening lap proved disastrous for Russell. While battling through the corners, Russell suffered a loss of battery power on the straight, which he suggested left him vulnerable and caused his car to lose speed. As he entered the Les Combes chicane alongside Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari, the two collided. The incident resulted in a spin that left Russell stranded in the gravel, forcing his retirement.

Stewards issued a five-second penalty to Hamilton for the collision, noting mitigating circumstances regarding the timing of the incident and Hamilton’s attempt to leave room. Hamilton, who finished fourth, remains under investigation for an additional incident involving an “unsafe release” from his pit box that resulted in contact with a Ferrari mechanic. Hamilton later inquired about the wellbeing of the crew member, who was reported to be unharmed.

Strategy became the defining element of the race around the midpoint. A virtual safety car on Lap 20, deployed to clear debris from the track, provided a distinct advantage for Ferrari. Charles Leclerc capitalized on the opportunity for a cheaper pit stop, emerging ahead of both Antonelli and Verstappen to take the lead. Once the field cycled through their stops, Antonelli faced a deficit of approximately three seconds to the Ferrari driver.

The Mercedes driver began to close the gap as the race entered its final stages. Antonelli finally moved back into the lead with 10 laps remaining, executing a pass on Leclerc down the Kemmel Straight. He ultimately crossed the finish line 1.9 seconds ahead of the Ferrari driver. Max Verstappen rounded out the podium in third place.

The race saw further attrition, with Sergio Pérez retiring on Lap 13 due to a rear spring/damper issue on his Cadillac, and Lance Stroll retiring on Lap 25 following a gearbox problem. Oscar Piastri finished fifth for McLaren, followed by Isack Hadjar in sixth and Lando Norris in seventh. Gabriel Bortoleto, Arvid Lindblad, and Franco Colapinto rounded out the top ten.

The result leaves Antonelli with a 50-point lead over Russell in the championship standings. Russell, reflecting on the result, told Sky F1:

"I'm numb to the disappointment, so when it happens so often, you just get used to it."

George Russell, Mercedes driver, via Sky F1

With the Belgian Grand Prix concluded, teams are already dismantling pit equipment to transport it to Hungary for the next event, scheduled for one week from today.