Antonelli wins Belgian Grand Prix as Russell retires after start-line clash

Kimi Antonelli claimed his first win of the 2026 Formula One season at the Belgian Grand Prix, moving his lead in the drivers' championship to 45 points. The Italian driver finished ahead of Charles Leclerc, who took second place for Ferrari after passing Max Verstappen on the opening lap and avoiding a penalty for contact with Oscar Piastri.

George Russell retired early after a first-lap collision with Lewis Hamilton, which team principal Toto Wolff attributed partly to a power-unit issue. Hamilton finished fourth after serving a five-second penalty for the same incident.

Mercedes driver Max Verstappen completed the podium in third, while Alpine’s Isack Hadjar finished sixth, only 12 seconds behind Verstappen despite starting from the back of the grid due to engine penalties.

In the midfield, Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto earned eighth place, keeping the team close to Williams in the constructors' standings. Franco Colapinto secured tenth after overtaking both Pierre Gasly and Liam Lawson at Les Combes. Lawson, who had run well early on, fell to twelfth after being passed by Colapinto and later struggled to regain points.

Haas driver Esteban Ocon finished 17th after two first-lap contacts that forced him onto the gravel, an incident he described as “wrong place, wrong time.”