Antonelli triumphs at Spa 73 years after Ascari, but the performance of Charles Leclerc, second across the finish line in his Ferrari, remains remarkable
73 years have passed. The last Italian to win at Spa was Alberto Ascari, in 1953. Kimi Antonelli filled that void, taking Mercedes (but above all Italy) to the top step of the Belgian Grand Prix, in a race that offered many more emotions than an obvious triumph.
The chaotic departurewith Russell ousted
At the start, a four-way battle formed between Antonelli, Verstappen, Leclerc and Russell for the top positions. It is the latter who pays the price almost immediately: a contact with Lewis Hamilton sent him into a spin on the first lap, forcing him to retire. The entry of the safety car could have shuffled the cards, but Antonelli managed the restart with clarity and maintained the lead of the race.
Hamilton, involved in the episode with Russell, received a five-second penalty. A sanction that caused discussion: Russell himself spoke of a normal racing accident, and the penalty appeared disproportionate to the dynamics of the facts. Despite this, Hamilton proves quicker than Leclerc at this stage and the two engage in a close battle for fourth position. Leclerc, however, resists tenaciously.
Mercedes against Ferrari, Antonelli against Leclerc
In front of, Verstappen he sets out to chase Antonelli with great determination. Red Bull tries to stay close to him, but Mercedes expresses a superiority in power which translates into a progressive and constant advantage. Spa is a track where the driver counts, but where the car has its say with equal force.
The race enters its crucial phase around lap 20when one virtual safety car for debris on the track offers a tactical opportunity. The two Ferraris try to exploit it in the pits. Leclerc returns to the track ahead of Antonelli and momentarily takes the lead of the race, after overtaking Lando Norris, still waiting for his pit stop. It is an ephemeral advantage: Antonelli goes wild, exploits the power of his engine, and on lap 26 he is already second. Eight laps later, on lap 34, he overtakes Leclerc and regains a position he would never have given up.
A competitive Ferrari in the race
It must be said that Leclerc does not give up, he has never given up. He remained glued to Mercedes even in the final laps, with a Ferrari that proved to be more competitive in the race at Spa than it had shown in free practice and qualifying. A further surprise is Charles, considering that over the course of the weekend Hamilton had always preceded his Monegasque teammate in free practice, and that Antonelli had dominated without any real rivals. In the final part of the race the Red team loses something, but remains just over a second from the top. Meanwhile, on lap 40, Hamilton overtakes Piastri and takes fourth place. It’s not enough to worry Antonelli, but it’s still an encouraging sign for the Monegasque and for the Maranello team.
The final order of arrival reads: Antonelli, Leclerc, Verstappen, Hamilton, Piastri, Hadjar and Norris.
Antonelli in Spa: from the tears of uncertainty to a rosy future
It’s impossible not to remember last year’s episode in Belgium, in which Kimi cried post-race, uncertain about his future in Formula 1, in what had been a truly difficult moment. Today, after the checkered flag, Antonelli cried again. This time, however, they are tears of joy and positive emotions: those of a boy who carries the weight and honor of more than seventy years of national automotive history, aware of having ahead of Hamilton and teammate Russell in the world rankings. A year ago, the future seemed uncertain. Today, however, it appears well defined and particularly bright.
