How did Antonelli extend his championship lead in Belgium?

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Antonelli extended his Belgian Grand Prix lead by winning and finishing 1.952 seconds ahead of Leclerc

Kimi Antonelli extended his Formula One drivers’ championship lead by winning the Belgian Grand Prix for Mercedes, finishing 1.952 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. The 19-year-old took his sixth win of the season, coming from his sixth pole position of the year, and moved to 204 points, which is 45 clear of Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton finished fourth, while Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull.
He converted pole into his sixth win of the season
Antonelli started from pole and won the race, marking the first time a driver has won from pole in Belgium since 2021. His victory also ended a three-race winless streak and gave him his sixth win of the season. That pole-to-win run put him in a points position that widened his advantage in the championship standings.
The race margin over Leclerc secured the points gap
Antonelli crossed the line 1.952 seconds ahead of Leclerc, with Verstappen finishing third. This points haul pushed Antonelli to 204 points for the championship. Hamilton remained second on 204 points and Russell was third on 154, leaving Antonelli 45 points clear.
Key on-track moments shaped the lead at Les Combes and beyond
Antonelli made an early lead up to La Source, but Verstappen passed him through Eau Rouge. Antonelli and Leclerc then drafted past Verstappen into Les Combes, and Antonelli took the lead from Leclerc on lap 23. He later surged after Leclerc, taking the lead again on lap 34, and held on while Hamilton fell back to sixth.
Incidents elsewhere did not stop Antonelli’s control at the front
George Russell crashed out on the opening lap after tangling with Hamilton, and Verstappen ultimately finished third. A separate pit-stop incident involved Hamilton touching a mechanic and earning a five-second penalty, while Ferrari received a €30,000 fine with €10,000 suspended. With the race settling behind Antonelli, he maintained control through laps 23 and 34 to secure the win and extend the championship lead.

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How did Antonelli extend his championship lead in Belgium?

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