Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli took the checkered flag to win the 2026 Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday. He secured the victory by capitalizing on a Virtual Safety Car period to jump Charles Leclerc, who finished second for Ferrari. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen completed the podium in third.
But the defining moment of the race happened on the very first lap. Mercedes’ championship aspirations took a severe hit when George Russell collided with former teammate Lewis Hamilton. The contact forced Russell into immediate retirement, completely altering the race dynamics at the front of the pack.
Hamilton managed to continue and crossed the line in fourth place. That result is highly unstable, however, as the Ferrari driver was handed a five-second time penalty by the FIA.
Mechanical Frustrations and Stewards’ Summons
Russell did not hide his anger after climbing out of the car. He told reporters he was “numb to the disappointment” of the early exit. He also pointed to a “dangerous” battery issue with his Mercedes that occurred just moments before the lap one clash, compounding the frustration of a lost opportunity to score heavy points.
While Antonelli cruised to the Belgian GP victory, Hamilton spent his afternoon fighting the car and the rulebook. His fourth-place classification remains under threat from an active post-race investigation.
The FIA officially summoned Ferrari to the stewards’ office for an unsafe release in the pit lane. Hamilton reportedly struck a mechanic while exiting his pit box during a mid-race stop.
The chaotic Sunday caps a brutal weekend for Hamilton and his garage. His Ferrari crew spent Saturday night in a frantic race against the clock, completely rebuilding his car in time for qualifying following a heavy crash during final practice.