Antonelli hits a new high at scene of last year's low

Antonelli hits a new high at scene of last year's low reports a turnaround for Kimi Antonelli at the Belgian Grand Prix after a difficult debut season. The 19-year-old Italian arrived in the Ardennes once more after scoring in only one of the past three races, cutting his championship lead from 66 points to 25, with Mercedes teammate George Russell close behind. On Sunday, a day after securing pole position on his father Marco’s birthday, Antonelli won a sixth race in 10 starts, moving 45 points clear of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. The Russell threat ended on the opening lap when Russell collided with Hamilton, spun and crashed into gravel. Antonelli said last year at Spa he “probably reached the bottom,” while this year felt mentally easier after a series of retirements and a single podium in Canada. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff attributed the improvements to a calmer, more structured mindset.