Kimi Antonelli becomes Italy’s second-most successful F1 driver
Motorsport.com • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 20, 2026, 3:02 PM
Last updated Jul 20, 2026
Kimi Antonelli showcased a remarkable transformation at Spa-Francorchamps, winning the Belgian Grand Prix on July 19, 2026. Just a year ago, he faced challenges, finishing poorly and showing visible emotion in a tough media environment. His recent success has made him Italy's second-most successful driver in Formula 1 history, showcasing a significant improvement in performance over the past year. The next race on the calendar presents another opportunity for Antonelli to build on this momentum.
- •Antonelli won the Belgian Grand Prix on July 19, 2026.
- •He finished poorly at Spa-Francorchamps in 2025.
- •Antonelli is now Italy's second-most successful F1 driver.
- •His performance improvement is notable over the past year.
- 10:00 AMMotorsport.com — Why Kimi Antonelli’s aggressive driving style works so well in F1 2026
- 3:02 PMMotorsport.com — What makes Kimi Antonelli such a good F1 driver now, as per Toto Wolff
"Six wins, six pole positions and the Formula 1 championship lead. Where a year ago Kimi Antonelli faced one of his toughest weekends in Formula 1, he has now taken a sweet revenge, claiming a victory that will mathematically allow him to head into the summer break as the championship leader. But the meaning of Spa goes well beyond that. The Belgian round, where last season he struggled with a ...Keep reading
"What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago at Spa-Francorchamps, a teary-eyed Kimi Antonelli struggled to maintain his composure in the media pen, amid an ordeal of a sprint weekend where he was twice out in Q1 and finished both races well down the order. Now, Antonelli is Italy’s second-most successful driver in Formula 1 history, having triumphed in Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix – ...Keep reading
Sources
External links- Motorsport.comJul 22, 2026, 10:00 AMWhy Kimi Antonelli’s aggressive driving style works so well in F1 2026
Six wins, six pole positions and the Formula 1 championship lead. Where a year ago Kimi Antonelli faced one of his toughest weekends in Formula 1, he has now taken a sweet revenge, claiming a victory that will mathematically allow him to head into the summer break as the championship leader. But the meaning of Spa goes well beyond that. The Belgian round, where last season he struggled with a ...Keep reading
- Motorsport.comJul 20, 2026, 3:02 PMWhat makes Kimi Antonelli such a good F1 driver now, as per Toto Wolff
What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago at Spa-Francorchamps, a teary-eyed Kimi Antonelli struggled to maintain his composure in the media pen, amid an ordeal of a sprint weekend where he was twice out in Q1 and finished both races well down the order. Now, Antonelli is Italy’s second-most successful driver in Formula 1 history, having triumphed in Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix – ...Keep reading
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