Kimi Antonelli’s victory at the Belgian GP on Sunday (19) resonated in the international press. After securing his sixth win of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, the Mercedes driver received praise from outlets in Germany, Spain, and Italy, which highlighted his performance and the impact of the result on the title fight.
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Antonelli started from pole position and had a dominant race. The Italian held off early pressure from Max Verstappen and later overtook Charles Leclerc to regain the lead and win at Spa. With the result, he extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship to 45 points over Lewis Hamilton, who took second place after George Russell’s retirement.
The German portal Sports.de highlighted Antonelli’s reaction after the retirement at the British GP and stated that the victory strengthened his dominance in the championship: “Antonelli strikes back at Spa,” it wrote. “The car held up, the prodigy delivered: Kimi Antonelli severely disrupted his rivals’ latest attempt to fight back in the title race and extended his lead in the World Championship standings. The 19-year-old Mercedes driver won the Belgian Grand Prix this Sunday, celebrating his sixth Formula 1 victory of the season, ahead of Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen.”
The Spanish newspaper Marca highlighted the Italian’s celebration on the podium and stated that the triumph reinforced his favoritism for the title:
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“Kimi Antonelli’s bath,” the headline read. “The Italian dominates in Belgium and extends his lead in Formula 1, consolidating his status as the absolute favorite. Antonelli, whom only his mother, Veronica, calls by his first name, Andrea, left one of the most memorable images atop the podium at Spa-Francorchamps, one of Formula 1’s most prestigious and iconic circuits. Bathed in champagne, his long hair and youthful appearance evoked legends of decades past. Legends with whom he should not yet be compared, but who inevitably come to mind whenever the young prodigy takes another step toward a world title.”
The Italian newspaper compared Antonelli to Alberto Ascari and classified the victory at Spa as further proof of the young driver’s talent: “Antonelli like Ascari,” it wrote. “The Bolognese driver secures his sixth win of the season and flies again after three disappointing races. A revitalized Leclerc confirms his excellent form after the win in Silverstone. Hamilton remains in the fight and is now second in the championship. George Russell was unlucky but ultimately did not convince. Winning at Spa, the circuit considered the university of Formula 1, is further testimony to Antonelli’s extraordinary talent.”
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