Like a world champion: Antonelli leaves everyone in his dust.

With the maturity of a future Formula 1 world champion, Kimi Antonelli further extended his lead in the championship with his sixth win of the season. The Mercedes teenager finished ahead of a Ferrari.

July 19, 2026

From: apa/dpa/fop

The Italian celebrated his sixth victory of the season on Sunday at Spa-Francorchamps, narrowly beating Silverstone winner Charles Leclerc in his Ferrari. Red Bull star Max Verstappen completed the podium in third place.

Antonelli thus extended his lead in the World Championship. The 19-year-old now has a 45-point advantage over Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton, who finished fourth.
George Russell, who started from third on the grid, suffered a major setback in the second Mercedes. Now third in the championship standings, 50 points behind, he was taken out of the race by Hamilton on the first lap and thus lost contact with his teammate. World champion Lando Norris (McLaren) had to settle for seventh place.

Leclerc with a lightning start, Russell in the gravel trap

In a turbulent opening phase, during which it briefly drizzled, pole-sitter Antonelli defended his lead against the aggressive Verstappen. Leclerc was the winner of the first lap, the Monegasque driver improving by two positions to second place. Russell, however, became the big loser after the Englishman ended up in the gravel trap following contact with Hamilton's car. The record world champion blamed a lack of grip on the front axle for the collision, but the stewards nevertheless handed Hamilton a five-second penalty.

Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc (front) and Lewis Hamilton (back) put in a strong performance but missed out on victory. © ANSA / OLIVIER MATTHYS

After the subsequent safety car period, Antonelli continued to lead the race on the hilly, historic Ardennes circuit, with the competition following seconds behind. Norris, who had started from 13th on the grid after a ten-place grid penalty, quickly worked his way up to sixth. Verstappen switched to the hardest tire compound on lap 18 of 44, and Antonelli countered a lap later despite better tire wear and shortly after a virtual safety car period – thus relinquishing his lead.

A moment of panic in the Ferrari pit.

Two laps later, a piece of car debris on the track brought out the virtual safety car again. Leclerc changed tires and emerged from the pit lane just ahead of Antonelli. Hamilton had a scare during his tire change, nearly running over a Ferrari mechanic. Antonelli then slowly closed the gap to Leclerc and was back in the lead with ten laps remaining. Norris dropped back to seventh place after a botched pit stop.

Before the summer break, the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring is scheduled for next Sunday. Antonelli will certainly go into the almost month-long break as the overall leader.