Antonelli relieved to get 'tough win' in Belgium and extend championship lead

[p]His victory ended a three-race winless streak and lifted the Italian 50 points clear of the luckless [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/russell-george/xxF56RaN/"]Russell[/a], who slipped to third in the title race after colliding with seven-time champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hamilton-lewis/tI5Vpe1h/"]Lewis Hamilton[/a] on the opening lap.[/p][p][b]"It feels very nice to be back on the top step after a few difficult races,"[/b] said the 19-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/antonelli-andrea-kimi/ptGu0mT1/"]Antonelli[/a].[/p][p][b]"It was a hard-fought race. We lost first place with the virtual safety car and then we managed to make our way back - and it was a tough win because [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/leclerc-charles/KlCOSRub/"]Charles[/a] was quick and we had to hold on to that.[/b][/p][p][b]"I think the momentum was always there, so it was just about getting the result."[/b][/p][embed guid="a0cb6b05-9f49-4561-a967-baf7c139f534" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2078884741764317561" social-type="twitter" /][p]Hamilton survived his clash with Russell to finish fourth on track behind second-placed Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc and four-time champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/verstappen-max/UV3mgeXB/"]Max Verstappen[/a] of Red Bull.[/p][p]The Briton climbed to second in the championship, 45 behind Antonelli.[/p][p]Antonelli admitted he had been fortunate to score maximum points on a day when Russell was forced to retire again.[/p][p][b]"We were a bit lucky with what happened, in terms of the championship, but that is why you have to take every opportunity - because we saw that it can really swing the situation.[/b][/p][p][b]"Now, we just have to keep performing, keep bringing the results and then we will see what will happens at the end of the year."[/b][/p][p]After reliability problems in Spain and Britain deprived him of any points, Antonelli had to stay calm under instruction from Mercedes to come home 1.9 seconds ahead of Leclerc.[/p][p]He recovered from losing his lead, after a good start from his pole position, during a virtual safety car intervention that favoured Ferrari and others.[/p][embed guid="7133b367-690f-4534-85aa-41d66c68165a" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2078851630754058424" social-type="twitter" /][h2]'Struggling'[/h2][p]Leclerc, who won the last race at Siverstone, fought hard to stay in contention and took a second place which leaves him fourth in the title race, 78 points behind Antonelli.[/p][p][b]"I believed in the win until the end. We had a little bit of luck with the VSC at the right time for us, but the pace was relatively strong.[/b][/p][p][b]"There were five or six laps, on the hards, where I was struggling with the front axle and then it came back a little bit.[/b][/p][p][b]"I felt better with the car. There's still some work to do, but it's a step forward."[/b][/p][embed guid="fe8f49ce-8105-4e28-9d6d-312adb4df1ee" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2078888346135453747" social-type="twitter" /][p]Verstappen said he and Antonelli had been unlucky with the VSC that gave Ferrari and others a 'cheap stop' in the race.[/p][p][b]"I tried everything I could in the race,"[/b] he said.[/p][p][b]"The first stint was not too bad, the second stint probably a bit more difficult. But at the same time, I think Kimi and I, we got a little bit unlucky with the virtual safety car.[/b][/p][p][b]"For us, to be on the podium is good. I gave it everything I had, so actually P3 is good."[/b][/p]