Antonelli wins Belgian GP as Russell and Hamilton collide on lap one, stretching F1 lead to 45 points

Kimi Antonelli delivered a composed drive to win the Belgian Grand Prix on 19 July, rebuilding his Formula One championship lead to 45 points after a first-lap collision eliminated his teammate George Russell. The 19-year-old Italian, who had seen his advantage shrink from 66 points to 25 across the previous three rounds, secured his sixth victory in 10 races this season.

A nightmare start for Russell

Russell lined up third on the grid but lost ground on the opening straight, dropping to sixth. Fighting to recover, he went side-by-side with former teammate Lewis Hamilton through Les Combes. The Ferrari driver clipped Russell's rear wheel, sending the Mercedes spinning into the gravel trap and out of the race. The safety car was deployed while stewards investigated the incident.

Car crossed over right in front of me.

Russell later told reporters the collision was not Hamilton's fault, citing a battery issue that left him vulnerable. "Cheguei ao topo de Eau Rouge com 0 por cento de bateria. Muito honestamente, foi perigoso," he said, describing the incident as a racing accident. Hamilton was handed a five-second penalty and Ferrari received a 30,000 euro fine for an unsafe release during a subsequent pit stop.

Antonelli controls the afternoon

Despite briefly losing the lead to Max Verstappen on the run toward Eau Rouge, Antonelli reclaimed the position along the Kemmel straight and managed the race from the front. Charles Leclerc, who started well and ran second, inherited the lead during a virtual safety car period on lap 20, having stayed out two laps longer than Antonelli before pitting. The Italian retook the lead with 10 laps remaining and crossed the line 1.952 seconds clear of the Ferrari.

A turnaround from the 2025 low

Antonelli's victory marked a dramatic reversal from his 2025 Belgian GP weekend, when he qualified 18th of 20, started from the pit lane, and finished 16th. At that point he had suffered four retirements in six races and scored only once. Speaking after the podium ceremony, he reflected on the contrast.

Last year here, I probably reached the bottom. It was a very difficult weekend for me mentally. But this year was definitely a lot better.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff attributed the change to Antonelli's improved mindset, describing his debrief manner as "absolutely transactional" and noting his calmness regardless of how a session went.

Leclerc, Verstappen and the championship picture

Leclerc finished second in what was described as a combative drive, continuing a strong run of form since his Silverstone victory. Verstappen completed the podium in third after a solitary race in which he briefly led but lacked the pace to stay with the front two. Hamilton took fourth, placing him second in the drivers' standings behind Antonelli, 45 points adrift.

Whispers around Mercedes and the youngest champion record

Russell's struggles have raised questions within the paddock. He has suggested an undisclosed issue with the Mercedes may be holding him back, but the team's clear performance advantage under Antonelli has fuelled speculation about whether the squad is positioning the Italian to become the sport's youngest world champion. He turns 20 on 25 August.