Antonelli wins at Spa to widen Formula One title lead
The Mercedes driver took his sixth win in 10 races, while George Russell’s early exit reshaped the championship fight.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
Kimi Antonelli won the Belgian Grand Prix for Mercedes on Sunday, extending his Formula One championship lead after his nearest pre-race challenger George Russell went out on the opening lap, Reuters reported. The result at Spa-Francorchamps moved Antonelli 45 points clear of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and 50 ahead of Mercedes teammate Russell, according to Reuters.
Reuters reported that the 19-year-old Italian took his sixth victory in 10 rounds this season. Antonelli had started from pole, continuing Mercedes’ run of pole positions at every race so far this season, according to Reuters.
Russell’s race ended almost as soon as it began, Reuters reported. The British driver spun into the gravel on lap one after contact with Hamilton while trying to regain positions lost at the start.
Leclerc second as Hamilton faces further scrutiny
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished second in the 44-lap race, 1.952 seconds behind Antonelli, Reuters reported. Leclerc had taken the lead after a pit stop during a virtual safety car period, but Antonelli later recovered the position.
Max Verstappen placed third, giving Red Bull its 300th Formula One podium, according to Reuters. Hamilton crossed the line fourth for Ferrari despite serving a five-second penalty over the collision with Russell.
Reuters reported that Hamilton remained under investigation for an unsafe pit-stop release. Any further penalty could move him down to fifth and increase Antonelli’s championship advantage.
Antonelli says Mercedes seized its chance
Antonelli said after the race that returning to victory was welcome after recent difficult rounds, Reuters reported. He had failed to score in two of the previous three races, according to Reuters.
“It’s great to be back on the top step after a few difficult rounds,” Antonelli said, according to Reuters. He described the race as hard-fought and said Mercedes had lost first place under the virtual safety car before finding a way back.
Antonelli also said the team had kept momentum despite missed results. “Today we were a bit lucky with what happened in terms of the championship but you have to take every opportunity because we saw how much it can swing,” he said, according to Reuters.
Points finishers at the Belgian Grand Prix
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished fifth, Reuters reported. Isack Hadjar took sixth for Red Bull after starting from the back of the grid, while reigning champion Lando Norris was seventh for McLaren after beginning 13th because of a 10-place grid penalty.
Reuters reported that Gabriel Bortoleto scored more points for Audi in eighth. Arvid Lindblad finished ninth for Racing Bulls, and Franco Colapinto took 10th for Renault-owned Alpine to complete the points scorers.
The Belgian result leaves Antonelli with a larger cushion in the standings after a race that hurt Russell most, according to Reuters. Hamilton remains second in the title race based on the reported points gap, with Russell now further adrift after failing to finish.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.