How Antonelli’s Spa masterclass proved his championship mettle

Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, starting from his sixth pole of the season.

Antonelli reclaimed the lead from Max Verstappen on the opening lap using his Mercedes' straight-line speed.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc gained track position under a Virtual Safety Car pit stop, dropping Antonelli to second.

Antonelli systematically hunted down Leclerc's Ferrari to retake the lead, demonstrating advanced race craft.

The win came despite teammate George Russell crashing out, giving Antonelli a championship advantage.