Belgian GP Roundup: Antonelli Extends Lead as Brundle Slams 2026 Rules

Kimi Antonelli moved within touching distance of a maiden Formula 1 crown with his sixth win of the 2026 season at the Belgian Grand Prix. The Italian's dominant Spa victory came as teammate George Russell crashed out on the opening lap, opening a 50-point gap between the Mercedes pair and putting Antonelli on course to become the sport's youngest-ever champion. But away from the track, the 2026 regulations faced renewed scrutiny after Sky F1's Martin Brundle delivered an emotional condemnation of the current rules.

Why it matters:

Antonelli's cushion at the top looks formidable with just 12 races remaining, confirming a generational shift at the front of the grid. Meanwhile, Brundle's intervention adds significant weight to the growing criticism of the 2026 technical package, with the veteran broadcaster effectively calling for an immediate U-turn on regulations that have fundamentally altered circuits like Spa.

The details:

• Antonelli's Charge: The Mercedes rookie took victory at Spa-Francorchamps to reach six wins for the campaign, capitalizing on Russell's first-lap exit. Russell made contact with Lewis Hamilton at Les Combes and spun into the gravel, suffering his third non-score in six races.
• Driver Ratings: Antonelli earned a 9/10 alongside Max Verstappen, Isack Hadjar, and Charles Leclerc. Six drivers received a joint-lowest score of 5/10.
• Rules Under Fire: Brundle admitted he has "a bit of a tear in my eye" over how the 2026 regulations have impacted the British and Belgian grands prix. He urged F1 to "get rid of this concept as soon as possible," with speculation building around a potential return to V8 engines by 2030.
• Spa's Data Story: As the longest circuit on the calendar, Spa exposed the shortcomings of the new power units. Data analysis shows the 2026 cars have fundamentally changed the character of iconic corners compared to the previous generation.

What's next:

Antonelli now needs only to maintain his current trajectory to rewrite the record books as F1's youngest champion. Yet the off-track discourse around the 2026 rules is only intensifying. With Brundle openly campaigning for change and whispers of V8s returning by 2030 growing louder, the sport faces a pivotal debate that could reshape its technical roadmap long before the next regulation cycle.