Antonelli Wins at Spa to Tighten His Grip: Mercedes Rookie Sensation Leads F1 2026 by 45 Points
Spa-Francorchamps — Kimi Antonelli’s remarkable 2026 season shows no sign of slowing. The Mercedes driver won the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa to extend his advantage at the top of the Drivers’ Championship, and with 12 rounds still to run he now looks every inch a title favourite.
Championship standings
After round 10 of 22, Antonelli leads on 204 points, a commanding 45 clear of Ferrari’s seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. His campaign so far reads: six wins, six poles and eight podiums — the numbers of a driver in complete control.
In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes lead on 358 points with eight race wins, 73 clear of Ferrari. The Silver Arrows have rediscovered the kind of dominance that defined their mid-2010s heyday, and the new-for-2026 regulations appear to have played directly into their hands.
The Antonelli story
Few expected the young Italian to be leading the world championship at this stage. Six poles from ten rounds points to raw one-lap speed; six wins points to the racecraft and consistency to convert it. Spa — the most demanding driver’s circuit on the calendar, where mistakes are punished harshly — was a fitting place to underline his credentials.
Behind him, Hamilton continues to lead the Ferrari challenge, but a 45-point deficit at the halfway mark is a substantial mountain. With Mercedes also holding a 73-point cushion in the constructors’ fight, the Italian team need a swing in performance rather than just results.
Next up: Hungary
The championship heads to the Hungaroring for the Hungarian Grand Prix on 26 July 2026 — a tight, twisty circuit where overtaking is famously difficult and qualifying position is king. Given Antonelli’s pole record this season, that is an ominous prospect for his rivals. Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull need a response, and they need it soon: the longer this run continues, the more inevitable a first title for the Mercedes man begins to look.
Prime Hunt Daily brings you every race result, standings update and analysis from the 2026 Formula 1 season.