Kimi Antonelli says he has “got to take every opportunity” in the title battle after his Belgian Grand Prix win at Spa-Francorchamps extended his lead over Mercedes team-mate George Russell to 50 points when Russell retired. Antonelli said: "I think the momentum was always there. Was just about getting the result and today we were a bit lucky in terms of what happened with the championship but that's why you've got to take every opportunity. We saw that it can swing really easily, the situation, so we [have] just got to keep performing, keep bringing the result and we'll see what happens at the end of the year."




Lando Norris said McLaren’s pace was “easily good enough” to fight for a Belgian Grand Prix podium after finishing seventh. Norris said: "It should have been a lot better today, honestly. The pace was easily good enough for a potential podium. I mean, we just had a terrible pit stop. We were unlucky with the VSCs as well."

Kimi Antonelli says he “reached rock bottom” at last year’s Belgian Grand Prix and could not have imagined being in his current position 12 months later, after winning at Spa on Sunday for Mercedes to extend his lead in the drivers’ championship. Antonelli said: "No, absolutely not. Last year here, I probably reached the bottom, so it was a very difficult weekend for me mentally. But this year was definitely a lot better. If you had asked me last year at this moment, I probably would have said no."

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says George Russell’s lap-one retirement at the Belgian Grand Prix was “100%” Mercedes’ fault after a power issue left him vulnerable before contact with Lewis Hamilton. Toto Wolff said: "It's two situations here. First is the racing, the accident that happened. It was unfortunate for us, we lost a lot of constructors' points and George [lost] drivers' points. And then we had an issue with all Mercedes engines, where we lacked power on the straight. And that bit him badly. It 100% goes on us."





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