Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes solidified his lead in the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship by winning the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps on July 19. This victory marked his sixth win of the season and extended his championship lead to 45 points. Despite facing setbacks in the prior rounds—including a late retirement in Barcelona and a disappointing 15th-place finish in Silverstone—Antonelli showcased a strong comeback, capitalizing on his pole position and maintaining dominance throughout the 44-lap race.

Mercedes teammate George Russell, who had steadily gained ground with previous podium finishes, faced a major setback at Spa. On the opening lap, he collided with Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari while attempting an overtake, forcing Russell into retirement and causing him to drop to third in the standings. Hamilton, who incurred a five-second penalty for causing the collision, finished fourth in Belgium. Hamilton currently holds second place in the championship, with 159 points, 45 behind Antonelli and narrowly ahead of Russell’s 154 points.

In the Belgian race, Charles Leclerc secured second place for Ferrari, strengthening his hold on fourth in the standings with 126 points. Max Verstappen finished third for Red Bull, marking his third podium of the season. However, Verstappen sits seventh overall with 91 points, trailing behind McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who occupy fifth and sixth places respectively. The Formula 1 field this season shows a diverse competition among these top drivers as the championship progresses through its tenth round.

In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes leads significantly with 358 points, holding a 73-point advantage over Ferrari’s 285 points. McLaren is third with 195 points, while Red Bull trails in fourth place with 151 points. Notably, Cadillac remains without points this season after ten rounds. The F1 calendar continues with the Hungarian Grand Prix scheduled from July 24-26, where teams will look to further influence both driver and constructor standings in this tight championship battle.