Charles Leclerc finishes second after Belgian Grand Prix title challenge
Charles Leclerc narrowly missed out on victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, finishing second after leading the race before Kimi Antonelli fought back to win.
Monaco's Charles Leclerc came close to victory at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, eventually finishing second behind Kimi Antonelli after a closely fought race at Spa-Francorchamps.
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The Ferrari driver briefly took the lead thanks to a well-timed pit stop during a Virtual Safety Car period and stayed in front for 12 laps before Antonelli regained first place in the closing stages. Speaking after the race, Leclerc said he believed victory was within reach.
"I believed I could win until the end. We were a little fortunate that the Virtual Safety Car came out at the right moment for us. Our pace was relatively good and I felt more comfortable in the car. There's still work to do, but it's a step in the right direction."
Antonelli described the victory as "hard-earned", praising Leclerc's pace after securing his sixth win of the season.
Max Verstappen completed the podium in third.
The race also saw a dramatic first-lap retirement for Antonelli's Mercedes team-mate and championship rival George Russell after a collision with Lewis Hamilton, who recovered from a five-second penalty to finish fourth.
Antonelli's victory extends his lead at the top of the drivers' standings to 45 points, while Leclerc's strong performance gives Ferrari further encouragement heading into the next round.