Kimi Antonelli continued his remarkable 2026 Formula 1 campaign with a sixth victory of the season at the Belgian Grand Prix, converting his sixth pole position into another commanding win around the iconic Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
The longest circuit on the F1 calendar produced another thrilling afternoon of racing, with overtakes, collisions, and strategic battles keeping fans on edge throughout the 44-lap contest. The weekend also marked a milestone away from the track, as Spa-Francorchamps welcomed a record-breaking crowd of 400,000 spectators across the event.
Antonelli started from pole for the sixth time this year, but his lead disappeared almost immediately. Max Verstappen launched off the line to take the lead into the opening corners before slipping back to third as the race settled into its rhythm, opening the door for a fierce battle at the front.
The opening lap also saw the first major incident of the afternoon. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton made contact, sending Russell spinning into the gravel. Russell’s Mercedes came to a halt at Turn 5, bringing out the safety car and forcing Russell to retire. Hamilton was handed a five-second time penalty for causing the collision, which he later served during another virtual safety car period.
Further back, Lando Norris faced one of the toughest challenges of the afternoon. After receiving a 10-place grid penalty, the McLaren driver lined up 13th for his 161st F1 start. Any hopes of extending his championship challenge looked difficult before the lights even went out, but Norris steadily carved his way through the field with a measured drive, even leading the race for a couple laps about halfway through the competition.
At first, the fight at the front featured Antonelli, Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, and Hamilton, with positions constantly under threat as differing strategies unfolded.
On lap eight, another flashpoint arrived when Piastri and Leclerc made slight contact while battling for position. The incident scattered debris across the circuit and left Piastri carrying front wing damage, although the Australian was able to continue.
A virtual safety car on lap 20 briefly neutralised proceedings, allowing several drivers to pit. Hamilton took the opportunity to serve his five-second penalty, limiting the amount of time lost compared to a standard green-flag stop.
Elsewhere, Sergio Perez’s race ended prematurely after Cadillac retired his car as a precaution following reports of a rear suspension spring issue. Lance Stroll also failed to see the chequered flag, retiring on lap 27.
One of the race’s biggest storylines centred around Leclerc. Starting fourth, the Ferrari driver appeared poised to break Spa’s curious statistic that no driver starting from fourth on the grid had ever won the Belgian Grand Prix. Leclerc spent much of the race leading or challenging for the lead and remained within a second of Antonelli during the closing stages, but the Ferrari driver ultimately fell just short of ending the long-standing trend.
Antonelli reclaimed the race lead on lap 34 and never looked back, expertly managing the pressure from Leclerc behind while preserving his tyres during the final stint.
Behind them, another captivating fight unfolded for fourth place. Hamilton recovered impressively from his early penalty, eventually overtaking Piastri on lap 40 after several laps of intense wheel-to-wheel racing.
Norris’ recovery drive continued into the closing laps, but despite setting the fastest lap of the race, he was unable to find a way past Isack Hadjar. The Racing Bulls driver produced one of his strongest defensive performances of the season, keeping Norris behind for several laps before securing an impressive sixth-place finish, with the McLaren driver forced to settle for seventh.
The 2026 Belgian Grand Prix race results
At the front, Antonelli remained calm under immense pressure to secure another flawless victory. His sixth pole position and sixth race win of the season further underlined why the young Italian has become the standout performer of the 2026 championship. Leclerc crossed the line second after pushing the Mercedes driver throughout the closing laps, while Verstappen completed the podium in third. The result also marked Red Bull’s 300th Formula 1 podium finish, adding another milestone to the team’s history despite narrowly missing out on victory.
On a day filled with incidents, strategy, and relentless wheel-to-wheel action, Spa-Francorchamps once again proved why it remains one of F1’s most celebrated circuits, delivering a Belgian Grand Prix worthy of its historic reputation.
