In a thrilling showdown at the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix, Mercedes prodigy Kimi Antonelli clinched his sixth career win, battling through a race filled with unexpected twists and turns. The 18-year-old Italian driver showcased his resilience after losing the lead to Max Verstappen, a four-time world champion, right from the start.
As the race unfolded at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps, Antonelli fought back to secure victory, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finishing in second place, just under two seconds behind. Verstappen, who initially surged ahead, ended up in third, trailing Antonelli by a significant margin.
The race was not without its controversies. Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri found themselves embroiled in incidents that caught the attention of the FIA. Hamilton, a seasoned veteran, faced a challenging first lap when he collided with his fellow Mercedes driver, George Russell.
The clash at Turn 5 saw Hamilton’s car veer into the gravel, forcing him to retire from the race and dealing a serious blow to his championship ambitions.
This unfortunate incident marked a troubling trend for Mercedes, as it was only the fifth time in six races that either of their drivers failed to score points. Hamilton, who received a five-second time penalty for the collision, later had a minor brush with Piastri, although the stewards ultimately cleared both drivers of any wrongdoing.
A virtual safety car was deployed on lap 20 to clear debris from the track, providing Ferrari with a strategic opportunity to double-stack their pit stops. Hamilton served his penalty during this time but narrowly avoided a mishap with one of his pit crew members.
The FIA is reportedly set to investigate Ferrari for an unsafe release during the pit stop, which could lead to further implications for Hamilton’s P4 finish. As the dust settles on this dramatic race, fans are left wondering what the fallout will be for the championship contenders.
The full results from the Belgian Grand Prix are as follows:
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – Winner 2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +1.
952 seconds 3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +11. 586 seconds 4.
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +17. 245 seconds 5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +18.
988 seconds 6. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) – +23. 307 seconds 7.
Lando Norris (McLaren) – +24. 014 seconds 8. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) – +49.
140 seconds 9. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) – +50. 406 seconds 10.
Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – +76. 037 seconds 11. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +76.
991 seconds 12. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – +77. 523 seconds 13.
Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) – +78. 348 seconds 14. Oliver Bearman (Haas) – +94.
465 seconds 15. Alex Albon (Williams) – +104. 684 seconds 16.
Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +105. 856 seconds 17. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – +110.
925 seconds 18. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) – +1 Lap 19. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +2 Laps 20.
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – DNF 21. Sergio Perez (Cadillac) – DNF 22. George Russell (Mercedes) – DNF
With the championship race heating up, what will be the next twist in this high-stakes season?
