The Ardennes rarely disappoint, and the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix delivered another dramatic chapter in both the Formula 1 World Championship and the Snus Vikings Nicotine Pouch Championship.
While Kimi Antonelli claimed victory on the road after a superb drive for Mercedes, Ferrari once again demonstrated why they remain the benchmark of consistency. Charles Leclerc secured second place after briefly leading the race, Lewis Hamilton battled back to fourth despite an early penalty, and together they extended Ferrari and ZYN's commanding lead in our alternative championship.
Ferrari Continue to Deliver When It Matters
Spa is one of Formula 1's greatest examinations.
High-speed corners, unpredictable weather and multiple strategy options reward teams that can execute every aspect of a race weekend, and Ferrari once again showed why they are setting the standard.
Leclerc looked on course for successive victories after inheriting the lead through strategy before Antonelli fought back in the closing stages. Hamilton's afternoon proved rather more eventful, recovering from first-lap contact with George Russell and serving a five-second penalty before climbing back to fourth by the chequered flag.
Although neither Ferrari driver stood on the top step, the Scuderia still left Belgium with another huge haul of points.
And that's exactly how championships are won.
ZYN Tighten Their Hold on the Nicotine Pouch Championship
With Hamilton and Leclerc both scoring heavily once again, Ferrari and ZYN continue to pull clear at the top of the standings.
Drivers' Championship
| Position | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari / ZYN | 159 |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari / ZYN | 126 |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren / VELO | 103 |
| 4 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren / VELO | 92 |
| 5 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac / 77 | 0 |
Constructors' Championship
| Position | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ferrari / ZYN | 285 |
| 2 | McLaren / VELO | 195 |
| 3 | Cadillac / 77 | 0 |
Ferrari now enjoy a 90-point advantage over McLaren in the Constructors' standings, while Hamilton has increased his lead at the top of the Drivers' Championship to 33 points over team-mate Charles Leclerc.
McLaren Stay in Touch
It wasn't the easiest afternoon for McLaren.
Oscar Piastri brought home another valuable fifth-place finish, while Lando Norris recovered from a difficult qualifying session and delayed pit stop to salvage seventh.
It wasn't enough to reduce Ferrari's advantage, but every point matters over the course of a long championship.
With plenty of races still to come, McLaren and VELO remain firmly in the hunt—even if the gap has grown after Spa.
Cadillac and 77 Still Searching for Their Breakthrough
Spa proved another difficult weekend for Cadillac.
Valtteri Bottas is still chasing his first championship points of the season, but there have been encouraging signs of improved race pace in recent rounds. With several circuits still to come that should better suit the Cadillac package, 77 will be hoping their breakthrough result isn't too far away.
One strong weekend can completely change the complexion of a championship.
Momentum is Everything
Belgium reinforced an important lesson, that you don't have to win every race to win a championship.
Ferrari may have narrowly missed victory on Sunday, but another double points finish has strengthened both Hamilton's Drivers' Championship campaign and Ferrari/ZYN's grip on the Constructors' title. Consistency is proving every bit as valuable as outright pace.
Next Stop: Hungary
The championship now heads to the Hungaroring, where overtaking is notoriously difficult and qualifying often proves just as important as race pace.
Can Ferrari and ZYN continue their relentless consistency?
Will McLaren and VELO begin closing the gap?
Or could Cadillac and 77 finally get themselves on the scoreboard?
We'll be following every lap as the Nicotine Pouch Championship continues.
