Five Winners and Five Losers from the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa

Here are GPBlog's five winners and five losers from an action-packed Belgian Grand Prix.

Spa was another statement drive from the championship leader. Antonelli converted pole position into victory despite briefly losing track position during the Virtual Safety Car phase, showing both patience and pace to overtake Charles Leclerc on merit in the closing stages.

More importantly, he capitalised fully on George Russell's retirement, extending his championship lead in what could prove to be one of the defining weekends of the season. Six wins in ten races underlines just how consistently impressive the 19-year-old has become.

Ferrari came agonisingly close to victory, but Leclerc can leave Belgium encouraged. He inherited the lead through strategy before eventually losing out to Antonelli's superior pace, yet second place represented another strong haul of points.

Considering Spa has traditionally favoured Mercedes and Red Bull, Ferrari demonstrating genuine race-winning pace is a promising sign ahead of the next phase of the championship.

It wasn't a winning weekend, but Verstappen extracted everything Red Bull had to offer. Third place ensured another podium and kept him firmly in touch near the front despite not possessing the outright pace to challenge Antonelli.

The result also marked Red Bull's 300th Formula 1 podium, giving the reigning champions another milestone to celebrate.

Hadjar continues to prove he belongs at the sharp end of Formula 1. Sixth place was another mature performance from the Frenchman, who once again maximised the machinery underneath him while avoiding the incidents unfolding around him.

As others made mistakes, Hadjar quietly added another excellent points finish to what is becoming an increasingly impressive campaign.

Rounding out the top ten might not usually attract headlines, but Colapinto's drive deserved recognition. The Alpine driver kept himself out of trouble throughout a chaotic race and delivered valuable points for his team.

Consistency has sometimes been lacking this season, making Belgium one of his tidiest performances of the year.

There is no bigger loser from Spa than Russell.

Heading into the weekend as Antonelli's closest championship challenger, Russell instead left Belgium with zero points after a first-lap collision ended his race almost before it had begun. While questions remain over the incident itself, the outcome is brutal.

Instead of reducing the deficit, Russell watched Antonelli extend his championship lead significantly, turning what looked like a close title fight into a much steeper uphill battle.

Hamilton crossed the line fourth, but his afternoon was far from straightforward.

His collision with Russell immediately became one of the defining moments of the race, earning him a five-second penalty, while his pit stop was also investigated following an unsafe release. Although Ferrari's pace looked encouraging, Hamilton's race will ultimately be remembered more for controversy than his recovery drive.

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris came home fifth and seventh respectively, but Belgium felt like a missed opportunity.

Neither driver ever looked capable of fighting for victory despite the team's strong form in recent races. While rivals Mercedes and Ferrari battled at the front, McLaren spent much of Sunday watching rather than attacking.

With Antonelli extending his championship advantage, the Woking outfit will feel they let an important opportunity slip away.

Williams endured another frustrating afternoon without scoring points, with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz finishing outside the top ten despite largely trouble-free races.

In a Grand Prix where several rivals retired or encountered problems, failing to convert that into points will disappoint a team looking to climb the midfield standings.

Belgium became another weekend to forget for Perez, whose retirement added to an increasingly difficult campaign.

At a circuit where experience can often pay dividends, an early exit meant another chance to deliver valuable points disappeared. While Verstappen secured another podium, Perez was once again left watching from the sidelines, only increasing the scrutiny surrounding his season.