Antonelli wins Belgian GP, extends lead to 45 points
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- Kimi Antonelli topped two of three practice sessions, claimed pole by over three-tenths of a second, and passed Charles Leclerc after a virtual safety car to win, earning a 9.5/10 rating as the championship leader's near-perfect weekend extended his standings advantage to 45 points over Hamilton.
- George Russell qualified fourth despite an unexplained straight-line speed deficit, but a battery problem left him vulnerable on lap one; Hamilton's collision with him ended Russell's race and dropped him to third in the championship, 50 points behind Antonelli.
- Lewis Hamilton recovered from a heavy final-practice crash and a penalty for the Russell collision to finish fourth, but the 6/10 rating reflected a 'messy Sunday' with 'far too much drama' despite 'plenty of pace.'
- Isack Hadjar charged from 21st on the grid to sixth with an aggressive strategy and held off Lando Norris at the finish, earning a 9/10 as 'one of the drives of the race' and a standout result for Red Bull.
- Charles Leclerc maximized Ferrari's potential and 'came closer than anyone to denying Antonelli the race win,' though an untidy contact with Oscar Piastri cost him a clean finish; he was rated 8.5/10.
- Max Verstappen briefly led off the line, qualified on the front row, and secured another podium, but the 8/10 rating reflected that he 'ultimately couldn't match Antonelli when it mattered.'
- The bottom of the ratings sheet was grim for backmarkers: Lance Stroll and Esteban Ocon tied at 3.5/10, Sergio Perez retired with a suspension problem after being outqualified by teammate Valtteri Bottas, and Fernando Alonso finished two laps down in another 'grim weekend' for Aston Martin.
Why it matters: Antonelli's 45-point cushion heading into the second half of the season puts Hamilton's title hopes under serious pressure, while Russell's opening-lap exit — triggered by the collision with his own teammate — leaves Mercedes managing internal friction at exactly the moment their lead driver is pulling away.
