Antonelli holds off Leclerc for Belgian GP win

The Italian appeared set for a comfortable win early after leading from pole and resisting an initial challenge from Max Verstappen, before a mid-race Virtual Safety Car allowed Leclerc to take the lead.

Antonelli remained patient, gradually reeling in Leclerc’s Ferrari before reclaiming the lead with 10 laps remaining and crossing the line 1.9 seconds clear to extend his championship advantage over Lewis Hamilton to 45 points.

Hamilton finished fourth behind Verstappen but could yet drop down the order, with the Ferrari driver under investigation for an unsafe release during his only pit stop.

Hamilton’s points, alongside Antonelli’s victory, nevertheless proved important in the championship battle after George Russell failed to complete a lap at Spa, crashing out at Les Combes following contact with Hamilton as the pair fought for position.

It was a disastrous result for Russell, who had entered the weekend on a strong run of form but now heads into the summer break the equivalent of two grand prix victories behind his teammate.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by FORMULA 1® (@f1)

Complete our motor oil survey for your chance to win 1 of 5 Supercheap Auto $100 gift cards.
Take the short survey.

Oscar Piastri finished fifth on the road but could inherit fourth if Hamilton receives a penalty, with the Australian spending much of the race battling both Ferraris and also engaging in a mid-race fight with McLaren teammate Lando Norris.

Norris finished seventh behind Isack Hadjar despite a late charge that brought the reigning world champion to within striking distance of sixth.

Gabriel Bortoleto drove a solid race to secure consecutive points finishes for Audi, while Arvid Lindblad extended his own points-scoring streak in ninth ahead of Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, who claimed the final point.

Antonelli said it had been a tough battle at the front but was pleased to return to the top step of the podium for his first victory since Monaco.

“It’s great to be back on the top step after a few difficult rounds,” he said.

“It was a hard fought race. We lost the first place with the Virtual Safety car, but then we managed to make our way back.

“It was a tough win because Charles was quick and we had to hold on to that.”

He added that the season still had a long way to run, with Russell’s latest retirement demonstrating how quickly the championship could swing back in his favour.

“I think the momentum was always there. It was just about getting the result,” he said.

“Today we were a bit lucky in terms of the championship. But that’s why you’ve got to try to take every opportunity because we saw that it can really swing very easily, the situation.

“We just got to keep performing, keep bringing the results, and then we’ll see what happens at the end of the year.”

Leclerc said he believed victory was possible until the end, although he admitted luck had played a part in putting him in contention.

“I believed in the win until the end,” he said.

“We had a little bit of luck obviously with the VSC at the right time for us. But the pace was relatively strong.

“There had been five, six laps on the hard where I’d been struggling with the front axle, and then it came back a little bit.

“I felt better with the car. There’s still some work to do. But surely it’s a step forward.”

Verstappen, meanwhile, said he was satisfied with third after doing everything possible during the race, despite the Virtual Safety Car working against him.

“I tried everything I could in the race,” he said.

“The first stint wasn’t too bad. Second stint probably a little bit more difficult. But at the same time I think Kimi and I got a little bit unlucky with the VSC as well.

“So I think for us to be on the podium is very good. I gave it everything I had and I think actually P3 is good.”

With Belgium’s traditional rain staying away throughout the weekend, it was only fitting that the threat of a shower hovered over the circuit as the cars lined up on the grid.

The race began in dry conditions, however, as pole-sitter Antonelli made a clean getaway to lead into La Source before Verstappen superbly swept past through Eau Rouge.

The Dutchman was unable to hold the lead down the Kemmel Straight, with Antonelli sweeping back ahead before Leclerc also passed Verstappen into Les Combes.

Behind the battle for the lead, Russell and Hamilton made contact as the Mercedes driver attempted a move down the inside of his former teammate into Les Combes.

Russell was sent spinning into the gravel and out of the race, recording his second DNF of the season and triggering the Safety Car, while Hamilton was later handed a five-second penalty for his role in the incident.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by FORMULA 1® (@f1)

There was further drama behind the former teammates as Carlos Sainz sent Esteban Ocon into the gravel, forcing Haas teammate Oliver Bearman to also take to the gravel in avoidance.

Liam Lawson emerged as a major beneficiary of the opening-lap drama, climbing from ninth to sixth and leapfrogging teammate Lindblad in the process.

The Safety Car returned to the pits at the end of Lap 4, with Antonelli maintaining his lead over Leclerc as Hamilton passed Piastri for fourth into La Source.

The McLaren driver immediately reclaimed the position on the run towards Eau Rouge, moving back into fourth as Antonelli stretched his advantage at the front to more than a second.

Verstappen passed Leclerc into Les Combes for second on Lap 6, while Norris climbed to ninth after overtaking Bortoleto’s Audi before taking eighth from Colapinto’s Alpine two laps later.

Ahead of them, Piastri began pressuring Leclerc for third, with the pair making brief contact as the McLaren driver attempted a move into Les Combes.

Piastri immediately complained over the radio that he had not been left enough space, with a piece of his front wing appearing to break off in the contact.

McLaren later confirmed Piastri had also sustained floor damage, while the stewards investigated Leclerc before deciding against further action.

The incident did little to halt the Melburnian’s pursuit of Leclerc, although he also came under pressure from Hamilton, who passed him for fourth into the same corner on Lap 9.

Up front, Antonelli maintained a 1.5-second advantage over Verstappen on Lap 10 as Norris continued his fightback through the field, passing Lawson for seventh.

The New Zealander had already fallen behind teammate Lindblad, who became Norris’ next target before the world champion took sixth on Lap 12.

The threat of rain appeared to have faded by Lap 15, with Antonelli holding a 2.3-second advantage over Verstappen as the Ferrari pair of Leclerc and Hamilton kept Piastri and Norris behind them.

Lawson became the first driver inside the top 10 to pit on Lap 16, dropping to 13th, while Norris took a second out of Piastri’s advantage as he began closing on his teammate for fifth.

Lindblad followed his teammate into the pits one lap later and emerged narrowly ahead, with the pair battling hard for 12th.

Lawson briefly took to the gravel as they fought into Les Combes on Lap 17, but Lindblad retained the position at the end of the lap.

Verstappen became the first of the top three to pit on Lap 18, rejoining in sixth ahead of teammate Hadjar just as a brief Virtual Safety Car was deployed to allow marshals to clear debris from the circuit.

Race leader Antonelli stopped one lap later, handing Leclerc the lead for the first time that afternoon before rejoining comfortably ahead of Verstappen in fifth.

Norris passed Piastri into the chicane on Lap 19, only for the Australian to reclaim the position down the Kemmel Straight one lap later as the McLaren teammates enjoyed a mid-race battle ahead of their pit stops.

A second VSC was then deployed due to more debris on the circuit, allowing both Ferraris, Piastri, Hadjar and the two Audis to dive into the pits.

The timing proved perfect for Leclerc, who rejoined ahead of Antonelli and Verstappen to take the net race lead, while Norris inherited the outright lead after remaining on track.

Piastri also gained a place as Hamilton served his five-second penalty during his stop. The Ferrari driver lost further time after clipping one of his mechanics while exiting his pit box and was placed under investigation for an unsafe release.

Leclerc took the outright lead for the second time on Lap 23, passing Norris down the Kemmel Straight before stretching his advantage over Antonelli to 2.3 seconds.

Antonelli passed Norris three laps later and set about pursuing Leclerc, with the gap standing at 2.9 seconds at the end of Lap 26.

Verstappen was next to clear the yet-to-pit Norris on Lap 29, forcing his way through for third into Les Combes as Piastri closed on his teammate.

Norris finally pitted on Lap 31, but a slow stop cost him further ground as he rejoined in eighth.

Behind them, Lawson found himself in a tight battle with the Alpine pair for the final points position, fighting hard to hold off Pierre Gasly before Colapinto swept past both drivers down the Kemmel Straight to move into 10th.

Norris moved up to seventh on Lap 32 by passing Bortoleto before setting about chasing Hadjar, who was 11 seconds further up the road.

Back at the front, Antonelli had reduced Leclerc’s advantage to less than a second by Lap 33 and threatened a move down the Kemmel Straight, but the Ferrari driver remained far enough ahead to defend into Les Combes.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by FORMULA 1® (@f1)

A lap later, however, Antonelli swept past Leclerc to retake the lead with 10 laps remaining and never relinquished it, despite the Ferrari driver’s best efforts to stay with him.

As the leading pair held position, Hamilton and Norris pushed to make further progress, with the Ferrari driver pressuring Piastri for fourth and Norris rapidly closing on Hadjar in sixth.

Hamilton looked down the inside of Piastri into Les Combes on Lap 39 but could not make the move stick, before passing the McLaren driver at the same corner one lap later to take fourth.

Piastri was then told to remain within five seconds of Hamilton, who remained under investigation for his earlier pit incident.

Meanwhile, Norris cut Hadjar’s advantage to three seconds by Lap 41 after setting a series of fastest laps and closed to within a second by Lap 43, but was unable to find a way past before the chequered flag.

F1 returns next weekend with the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest.

Results: Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix