Antonelli takes advantage of Russell's crash in Belgium to stretch championship lead

Kimi Antonelli now holds a 45-point lead at the top of the drivers' championship, with George Russell slipping to third in the standings.

Kimi Antonelli claimed his sixth Formula One victory of the season at the Belgian Grand Prix, capitalising on George Russell's early exit.

Antonelli started on pole but had to pass Charles Leclerc to re-establish his comfortable lead after his Mercedes team-mate crashed out early on.

The Italian fought back from a delay caused by a virtual safety-car period, using it to catch and pass Leclerc and earn his first victory since Monaco at the start of June.

As for Russell, he was taken out on the opening lap in a collision with Lewis Hamilton, who leapfrogged the 28-year-old to second in the drivers' standings.

Hamilton finished fourth behind Max Verstappen, who had briefly taken the lead from Antonelli on the first lap, but the Brit is the subject of a post-race investigation.

The 41-year-old was given a five-second penalty for the collision with Russell, which he served at his sole pit stop, but he also had an alleged unsafe release after that due to knocking over a mechanic who was still trying to work on the car.

Should he be hit with another five-second penalty, he will be demoted to fifth after finishing just 1.7 seconds clear of Oscar Piastri in fifth.

Isack Hadjar finished in sixth, holding off Piastri's McLaren team-mate Lando Norris, who had looked set to challenge for a podium spot despite starting from 13th on the grid after a penalty.

Audi racked up their third top-10 finish of the season, with Gabriel Bortello crossing the line in eighth again, with Arvid Lindblad and Franco Colapinto rounding out the top 10.

Antonelli gets back on track

Antonelli's lead at the top of the drivers' standings was starting to close over the last three races, with only one top-10 finish in that time – third place in Austria.

However, he got back to winning ways, earning more points with this victory (25) than he had across his last three outings (23).

Mercedes have placed at least one of their drivers on the podium in each of the opening 10 Grands Prix this season, with this being the third time they have gone on such a streak after 2014 (19) and 2019 (10).

There was also a landmark podium for Red Bull, who claimed their 300th after Verstappen's third-place finish.

TOP 10

1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

6. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)

7. Lando Norris (McLaren)

8. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)

9. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)

10. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)