Kimi Antonelli put on a masterclass at the Belgian Grand Prix, cruising to a dominant victory from pole position and sending a clear message to his rivals: he's the one to beat in F1. The Mercedes ace delivered a near-flawless performance at Spa-Francorchamps, underlining his championship credentials with a 45-point advantage over Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton. Antonelli had been in control all weekend, topping two practice sessions and snatching pole by over three-tenths of a second – and he made the most of it, dictating the pace from start to finish.
But for Lewis Hamilton, it was a day to forget. The British driver had shown scintillating speed, only to be left licking his wounds after a crash-strewn weekend. He'd already picked up a penalty for clashing with George Russell on the opening lap, and when he tried to fight back, disaster struck again – this time in the form of a collision with Russell that cost him valuable points. Hamilton ultimately recovered to fourth, but it was a messy affair that left him frustrated.
Charles Leclerc put in a valiant effort for Ferrari, squeezing every last bit of performance from his car and threatening to snatch the win – at least until Antonelli re-passed him with ease. Max Verstappen secured another podium finish, but couldn't quite match the Mercedes driver's pace when it mattered most. Oscar Piastri had a tough day, too – damaged after contact with Leclerc, he managed to salvage fifth place, only for Hamilton to pinch fourth from under his nose in the dying laps.
And then there was Isack Hadjar, who pulled off one of the shocks of the weekend. The Red Bull youngster started 21st on the grid and charged through the field with a precision timing and an aggressive strategy – eventually holding off Lando Norris to score a vital sixth place. It was a stunning result for his team and a testament to Hadjar's talent.
Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto continued his upward curve, qualifying in Q3 and converting it into another points finish. Arvid Lindblad also impressed with a mature drive, while Franco Colapinto snatched the final point with a decisive move in a three-way battle – once again outshining his more experienced teammate Pierre Gasly.