Russell's title hopes hit as Antonelli wins Belgian GP

George Russell's Formula One championship challenge suffered a serious setback at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday when he retired on the opening lap at Spa-Francorchamps following a collision with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, as Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli took victory.

Hamilton was penalised for the incident, but Russell described the contact as a racing incident, saying the Ferrari driver was more to blame than him without doing anything reckless. The Briton was angrier about the position he found himself in, having lost electrical power and turbo boost shortly after a strong start.

What happened at Spa

Russell said his battery failed to recharge at Turn One, leaving him 35% down on electrical energy and with a boost problem that cut his power. By the top of Eau Rouge he reported 0% battery and was passed by three cars before the collision with Hamilton ended his race. He called the situation dangerous and said he should never have been in that position.

It was the latest in a series of problems for Russell this year, a list he has referenced in explaining Antonelli's advantage. Technical trouble in China qualifying, a safety car that altered the race in Japan, a retirement while leading in Canada and the unresolved pit-lane speeding penalty issue in Monaco have all cost him points.

Championship picture

• Russell retired on lap one at Spa after contact with Hamilton, who was penalised
• Antonelli won for the sixth time in 10 races this season
• The result doubled Antonelli's lead over Russell in one afternoon
• Russell cited battery and turbo problems that left him without power
• He described the collision itself as a racing incident and not deliberate

Antonelli's victory in Belgium came after Russell had suggested the balance of luck between the two cars had levelled out. Following the British Grand Prix, where Antonelli failed to score, Russell felt his 25-point deficit was a fair reflection of their performances across the season. That gap has now grown substantially.

Russell, who said he has grown numb to repeated disappointment, will look to respond at the next round as Mercedes seek to close the gap to their championship-leading driver. The team must also address the power-unit issues that turned a promising afternoon at Spa into another costly retirement.