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Motorsport
Motorsport
Lydia Mee

Charles Leclerc kept Kimi Antonelli "honest" in Belgian GP, says Naomi Schiff

Kimi Antonelli Charles Leclerc Naomi Schiff Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes Lewis Hamilton Sky Sports

Sky Sports F1 pundit Naomi Schiff has commended Kimi Antonelli for a "solid and well-deserved" drive to victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, while noting how entertaining it was to see Charles Leclerc keep the race winner on his toes.

Antonelli secured his sixth grand prix victory of the season at Spa-Francorchamps after starting from pole position and fending off Ferrari driver Leclerc throughout multiple virtual safety car periods and a full safety car period.

Speaking after the chequered flag during the Sky Sports F1 broadcast, Schiff admitted she had initially expected a wider winning margin for the Italian driver, but felt the tight battle at the front added to the entertainment.

"Fantastic day for Kimi. Look, I think if anything, I may have expected his lead to be expanded by a little bit more than it was," the former W Series driver explained.

"Of course, Charles had the advantage of the VSC for his pitstop, but he did manage to keep him quite honest, and that was quite entertaining to see how much the other teams were able to keep them honest.

"But a fantastic job from Kimi, no mistakes made from his side again and just another solid and well-deserved drive."

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes (Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images)

Schiff argued that Antonelli has the benefit of having total belief in his Mercedes machinery, which helps give him more of an edge over his rivals.

"That's the beauty of having that little extra bit of pace that you can rely on," she added. "It just takes the pressure off things a little bit and means that you don't have to go over the edge of the car, over the limit of the tyres to be able to deliver that kind of comeback and fightback to claim that victory."

Antonelli's win in Belgium has extended his lead in the drivers' championship to 45 points over Lewis Hamilton, who took second after George Russell retired from the race. It is worth noting that, at the time of writing, Hamilton is under investigation for a potential unsafe release.

Photos from Belgian GP - Sunday

50 Formula 1 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari; Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Lando Norris, McLaren

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Carlos Sainz, Williams

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Lando Norris, McLaren

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 George Russell, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 George Russell, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Alpine F1 Team pit lane message

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Alexander Albon, Williams, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andy Stevenson, Sporting Director, Aston Martin F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 George Russell, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Jacques Villeneuve arrives in the paddock.

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 George Russell, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Carlos Sainz, Williams

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Belgian Grand Prix - Sunday
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