Kimi Antonelli convincingly won the Belgian Grand Prix. For the Italian, who had to contend with Charles Leclerc in the final phase of the race at Spa-Francorchamps, it is his sixth victory of the season. Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate George Russell retired in the opening lap, so he once again benefits in the World Championship standings.
Read more Result Grand Prix Belgium 2026
Behind Antonelli and Leclerc, Max Verstappen secures third place after a strong race from P2. For the four-time world champion from Red Bull, that will also feel like a serious boost.
Relive the 2026 Belgian GP below:
It is still dry for now, but in some places above the circuit it is heavily overcast. The chance of rain during the race is estimated at ten percent.
The starting grid has been heavily shuffled due to grid penalties for no fewer than five drivers, but the front row remains unchanged, with Antonelli on P1 and Verstappen on P2. The four-time world champion from Red Bull will be more determined than ever to get a good start. “But normally I won’t be able to keep up with Kimi, unless something strange happens. I will mainly have to watch my mirrors,” Verstappen said just now during his walk to the grid.
FORMATION LAP: The drivers are on their formation lap. The top 10 start on the medium compound, but among others Lando Norris (P12) and Isack Hadjar (P21) have chosen the hard tires and will go longer.
Russell out
LAP 1/44: Max Verstappen takes the lead after the first corners, just before Eau Rouge, but a fraction later has to let Antonelli and also Charles Leclerc pass. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton collide. Russell is the one who pays the price and is out. Safety Car! See here the video of the incident.
LAP 2/44: Several drivers come in for new rubber, including Hadjar, who even comes in twice for strategic reasons (to mediums, then back to hard). Meanwhile, Russell’s Mercedes is being towed away. The Russell-Hamilton incident is being investigated by the stewards. The first raindrops are now being felt.
LAP 4/44: We are racing again! Antonelli and Leclerc are away, but a gap immediately opens up towards Verstappen. Hamilton and Piastri fight for P4.
LAP 6/44: Verstappen sets the fastest lap, overtakes Leclerc and regains second place, behind Antonelli. The gap to Antonelli is less than a second. Top 5: Antonelli, Verstappen, Leclerc, Piastri, Hamilton.
Hamilton time penalty
LAP 8/44: Leclerc is under pressure from Piastri. On Kemmel Straight the two touch, causing some damage to one of the cars. For now, both can continue. Piastri is – rightly – not amused. Hamilton receives a five-second time penalty for the incident at the start with Russell.
LAP 12/44: Max Verstappen has to let Kimi Antonelli go. The gap between them is now about two seconds. So the Dutchman indeed mainly has to watch his mirrors, with Leclerc, Hamilton and Piastri close behind him. Meanwhile, Leclerc is also having a spat with Hamilton, again on Kemmel Straight. Meanwhile, world champion Lando Norris has moved up to P6 on the hard tires.
LAP 16/44: Meanwhile, Lando Norris is closing in quickly; he is by far the fastest man on the track now and is in P6, only two seconds behind teammate Piastri. Verstappen is driving fairly safely in P2, with a one-second margin over Charles Leclerc.
LAP 18/44: Max Verstappen comes in for his first pit stop and switches to the hard tires. It is a good stop. With these tires, he should normally be able to finish the race. Verstappen returns in P6, well behind Norris, with clear air ahead of him.
LAP 19/44: Kimi Antonelli, leader in the race, lightly touches the wall entering the pit lane for his first stop. It remains without consequences.
LAP 20/44: There is a virtual safety car situation. Leclerc and Hamilton both come in. This VSC suits Ferrari perfectly. Leclerc returns to the track ahead of Antonelli and Verstappen and virtually leads the race. Norris is still in P1, however, but he still has to make his first stop.
Leclerc leads
LAP 23/44: Leclerc has now also passed Norris (who still has to make his first stop) and is now officially the leader in the race. Antonelli is over two seconds behind. Behind them: Verstappen, Piastri and Hamilton.
LAP 26/44: Antonelli has also passed Norris and can start the hunt for Leclerc. The gap is three seconds. Verstappen is next to try to overtake Norris. The Brit from McLaren will not wait much longer for his mandatory stop. Verstappen complains over the radio about the hard tires, which according to him do not work for the Red Bull.
LAP 29/44: And Max Verstappen has also passed Norris and takes third place. Norris still has to come in. Behind the McLaren Brit, his teammate Oscar Piastri is a bigger threat to Verstappen and his podium ambitions.
LAP 31/44: And Lando Norris is in for new rubber (mediums). Standings at the front now: Leclerc, Antonelli, Verstappen, Piastri, Hamilton. The gap between Verstappen in P3 and Piastri in P4 is just under two seconds. Meanwhile, Antonelli is closing in on leader Leclerc.
LAP 34/44: Kimi Antonelli retakes the lead in the race at the expense of Charles Leclerc, who was horrendously blocked by backmarker Bottas in his Cadillac just before Antonelli’s overtaking move.
Antonelli under pressure
LAP 38/44: Antonelli is still under pressure from Leclerc, who is biting into the Italian. Verstappen is stable on podium course and has almost three seconds lead over Oscar Piastri, who is now under pressure from Lewis Hamilton in his Ferrari. Meanwhile, there are still only three retirements: Russell, Pérez and Stroll.
LAP 40/44: Lewis Hamilton has passed Oscar Piastri. The gap to Verstappen is now exactly four seconds. Is there still a fight coming for the last podium place?
LAP 44/44: Kimi Antonelli is flagged as the winner and Max Verstappen also secures his third podium of the season. His third place is a reward after a strong race.
Read more Carlos Sainz also gets new engine parts, becomes fifth driver with grid penalty for Belgian GP
Read everything about the Belgian GP here
