Kimi Antonelli claimed victory in Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, increasing his Formula 1 drivers’ championship lead to 45 points.
The 19-year-old Mercedes driver secured his sixth win of the 2026 season. Lewis Hamilton finished second, while teammate George Russell retired on the opening lap.
The result came one year after a difficult weekend at the same circuit. In 2025, Antonelli was eliminated in Q1 twice and finished well down the order, leaving him emotional in the media pen.
Team principal Toto Wolff highlighted Antonelli’s improved mindset. “What was not expected is the serenity and structure that he brought into his game,” Wolff said. “It is absolutely transactional. What is the problem? How do we solve it? How do we move on?”
Antonelli described the contrast with last year. “Last year here, I probably reached the bottom,” he said. “If you had asked me last year at this moment, I probably would have said no.”
