Antonelli Claims Hard-Fought Victory at Belgian Grand Prix

Italian driver Kimi Antonelli celebrated a hard-fought victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, the tenth round of the 2026 Formula One season, held at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. This marks Antonelli's sixth win of the season, though he admitted the race was far from easy.

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It was a hard-fought victory. We lost the lead but managed to fight back. It was a complicated victory because Charles -Leclerc- was fast.

Antonelli described the win as "great" after a couple of "complicated" previous races. He explained the intense battle on track, stating, "It was a hard-fought victory. We lost the lead but managed to fight back. It was a complicated victory because Charles [Leclerc] was fast." He detailed navigating traffic and challenges, including being overtaken by Max Verstappen early on, but managed to regain the position.

The young driver highlighted the dynamic nature of the race, particularly after a safety car period. "It was an intense, fun, and high-tempo fight," Antonelli said, noting that his car's pace was significantly better than in practice sessions. He mentioned some difficulty with the rear tires and a lower downforce package, which helped in corners despite initial struggles.

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It's been a tough, hard-fought victory. We lost the lead but managed to fight back. It was a complicated win because Charles -Leclerc- was fast.

Antonelli expressed gratitude to his team for their efforts, stating, "I am really happy because today we finished the job and maintain the good streak. Thanks to the team." He also shared his anticipation for the evening's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, expressing admiration for Lionel Messi and acknowledging the presence of many Barcelona players in the Spanish national team.

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I am really happy because today we finished the job and maintain the good streak. Thanks to the team.

Meanwhile, Antonelli's teammate George Russell retired from the race due to a battery issue. He described the problem as dangerous, stating, "The battery didn't charge, I came out of the corner with 35 percent less battery, I arrived without power. It was dangerous, honestly." Russell also commented on Lewis Hamilton's penalty following a first-lap incident, stating the sanction was irrelevant as "we brought it on ourselves" with the battery problem.

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The battery didn't charge, I came out of the corner with 35 percent less battery, I arrived without power. It was dangerous, honestly.