Kimi Antonelli Menangi GP Belgia Saat Lewis Hamilton Dijatuhi Penalti

Pembalap Kimi Antonelli berhasil memenangi balapan Formula 1 Grand Prix Belgia sekaligus memperkokoh posisi di puncak klasemen pada Minggu, 19 Juli 2026, di tengah insiden tabrakan yang membuat Lewis Hamilton dijatuhi penalti lima detik.

Insiden tersebut terjadi di awal balapan saat Lewis Hamilton dari tim Ferrari bersenggolan dengan pembalap Mercedes, George Russell, di tikungan ketiga selepas keluar dari Eau Rouge untuk memperebutkan posisi keempat.

Benturan ban depan kiri Hamilton menyebabkan mobil Russell berputar hingga keluar ke area kerikil dan tidak bisa melanjutkan balapan, sehingga memicu keluarnya safety car.

"Car crossed over in front of me," kata Hamilton melalui radio tim.

"I was right behind another car so I had no front end." lanjut Hamilton menjelaskan situasi dari sudut pandangnya.

Pengawas balapan FIA menolak pembelaan tersebut dan tetap menjatuhkan penalti waktu lima detik kepada Hamilton karena dianggap bersalah menyebabkan tabrakan.

Hamilton yang sedang berada di posisi keempat saat penalti diumumkan, memanfaatkan periode virtual safety car untuk menjalani hukuman tersebut guna meminimalkan kerugian waktu.

Di sisi lain, Russell mengaku sangat kecewa karena kegagalan finis ini merugikan peluangnya dalam perebutan gelar juara dunia musim ini.

"When it happens so often you just get used to it. I made a great first corner and I was tucked up right behind (Red Bull’s Max) Verstappen but for whatever reason the battery decided not to recharge at Turn One. I exited the first corner 35% down because of that, and it didn’t charge, I had a boost problem, the turbo didn’t sort itself out, so no power, and I got to the top of Eau Rouge with 0% battery and quite frankly it was dangerous.

I got swamped by three cars and I shouldn’t have been in that position in the first place, and that is why I am most angry. The incident with Lewis was a racing incident. He didn’t do it on purpose.

He was more to blame than I, but he didn’t do anything reckless." ujar Russell pascabalanapan.

Sementara itu, rekan setim Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, lolos dari hukuman setelah diselidiki atas insiden senggolan dengan Oscar Piastri dari McLaren di lokasi yang sama.

Pengawas balapan memutuskan tidak ada tindakan lebih lanjut untuk Leclerc karena insiden tersebut dikategorikan sebagai insiden balapan biasa.

Di kubu McLaren, kepala tim Andrea Stella menyoroti performa Oscar Piastri yang dinilai kesulitan beradaptasi dengan karakteristik mobil regulasi baru musim 2026.

"I think the drivers are talking about this generation of cars requiring a certain driving style," kata Stella kepada Sky Sport Germany.

"Basically, if you just try to drive too clean, the lap time doesn't come. You have to attack the car, you have to accept that the car slides, you have to be extremely active." tambah Stella mengenai tuntutan gaya berkendara yang agresif.

"And this is a driving style that comes more normal to Lando than Oscar. We are working with Oscar to make sure that his natural application in terms of driving input takes these characteristics into account. We have seen this across some other team-mates, like Antonelli and Russell, sometimes Hamilton and Leclerc." jelas Stella mengenai evaluasi internal timnya.

"So, I think we will figure this out and Oscar will be able to express the full extent of his talent." pungkas Stella mengungkapkan optimismenya.

Piastri yang start dari posisi ketujuh setelah sempat melebar ke kerikil saat kualifikasi hari Sabtu, mengakui tantangan berat dalam mengendalikan mobilnya.

"I think the struggles I've had today have not been related to that," ujar Piastri mengklarifikasi masalah hidrolik yang dialaminya pada sesi latihan hari Jumat.

"It's just been a very difficult car to drive and very, very tough. If you can balance it on the edge, then the lap time seems to be there, but balancing it on the edge is pretty tough." keluh Piastri mengenai kendali mobil.

"A bit of everything, depending on where exactly you put it and which way the wind is, what kind of corner you're in. It's not one kind of clear problem, which I think when you've got struggles with a bit of everything, it's probably that that's just what the car is capable of and extracting any more out of it is... You just need more downforce really." papar Piastri mengenai titik lemah kendaraannya.

"But the rear of the car has definitely been a challenge the last couple of weekends in particular. Obviously today it's been quite windy, Silverstone was quite windy, so I don't know if that's added to the challenge, but it's definitely not been easy." tutup Piastri menjelaskan pengaruh faktor cuaca angin pada stabilitas bagian belakang mobil.