Kimi Antonelli wins Belgian Grand Prix as Russell crashes out

Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli stands victorious at the Belgian Grand Prix, edging out his Formula 1 championship lead as his teammate, George Russell, crashes out on lap one.

Feature image credit: Mercedes F1

Antonelli converted his sixth pole position of the season into his sixth race win of the year, overtaking Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc for the victory on lap 34 as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen rounded out the podium.

This win now puts Antonelli 50 points clear of his closest championship contender and his teammate, George Russell, who crashed out of the race on lap one with a first-lap collision with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.

At the race start, the Italian defended his starting position into the opening corner from Verstappen, but he was quickly overtaken by the four-time world champion heading into-and-up Radillon. However, there was trouble slightly further back as Verstappen led the pack around turn five, prompting the first safety car deployment.

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and his former Mercedes teammate, George Russell, made contact at turn five, amongst the first lap pack. Hamilton quickly overtook Russell down the Kemmel straight, with the #63 dropping down the order with a lack of power. The Mercedes driver tried to fight back and broke late to dive around the outside.

Hamilton’s Ferrari, tucked up behind Verstappen, having been overtaken by Antonelli and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, had no front end to bite into the turn, and it resulted in contact with the side of the Mercedes.

The collision sent Russell into a spin, into the gravel trap, and out of the race. It was under investigation by the stewards and, after a lengthy wait for their result, Hamilton was given a five-second time penalty for causing a collision with Russell.

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Cadillac’s Sergio Perez became the Belgian Grand Prix’s second retirement, with the grand prix winner claiming his suspension had broken. He pitted and retired,

The VSC was thrown out on lap 20, as it was on lap 18, to allow marshals to clear up debris from the track. As a result, the leading drivers, Leclerc and Hamilton, were ordered to box, and they obliged, making use of the cheap stop.

Hamilton served his stop and his penalty. However, as he went to return to the pit lane, his mechanic pulled in front of the car as the light turned green, with the seven-time world champion accidentally hitting the mechanic. Ferrari confirmed the affected mechanic was okay after the incident, as Hamilton confirmed he was reacting to the green light.

This incident was placed under investigation for an unsafe release and is set to be conducted after the race.

As a result of the VSC, Leclerc managed to pip Antonelli on track, having returned in second place, behind McLaren’s Lando Norris, who had taken over as the race leader. It didn’t take long before Leclerc dispatched Norris to take the lead of the race.

Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll became the third retirement of the race, on lap 27, after the team ordered the Canadian to box with a clutch problem.

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On lap 33, Antonelli found himself back onto the gearbox of Leclerc, having passed Norris himself before the defending world champion pitted for his mandatory stop.

Despite a warning of Leclerc’s antics squeezing drivers on the outside at turn five, Antonelli was able to make a move for the lead down the Kemmel straight on the next rotation of the track, lap 34.

Despite Leclerc’s best attempts to regain the race lead from Antonelli, the Monegasque didn’t have the power underneath him to truly threaten the Mercedes. As such, the Italian went on to take the chequered flag as the Belgian GP winner, ahead of Leclerc and Verstappen.

Race classification:

1. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
2. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari +1.952s
3. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing +11.586
4. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari* +17.245s
5. Oscar Piastri, McLaren +18.988s
6. Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing +23.307s
7. Lando Norris, McLaren +24.014s
8. Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi +49.14s
9. Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls +50.406s
10. Franco Colapinto, Alpine +1m 16.037s
11. Pierre Gasly, Alpine +1m 16.991s
12. Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls +1m 17.523s
13. Nico Hulkenberg, Audi +1m 18.348s
14. Oliver Bearman, Haas +1m 34.465s
15. Alexander Albon, Williams +1m 44.684s
16. Carlos Sainz, Williams +1m 45.856s
17. Esteban Ocon, Haas +1m 50.925s
18. Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac +1L
19. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin +2L

* – Hamilton is under investigation after the race

Retirements:

20 – Lance Stroll, Aston Martin – Clutch

21 – Sergio Perez, Cadillac – Suspension

22 – George Russell, Mercedes – Collision

As a result of Russell’s retirement, Hamilton will now move into second place in the drivers’ championship, overtaking his compatriot. However, Antonelli strengthens his position at the top and will now hold a 45-point lead over Hamilton.

Next up is the Hungarian Grand Prix, which will round out the first half of the season next weekend, ahead of the annual two-week summer shutdown, on July 24-26.

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.