F1 leader Antonelli needs a win after recent blows

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium, July 15 : Kimi Antonelli needs a win in Belgium this weekend to pump up his Formula One championship lead after two blanks in the last three races, but Ferrari could stand in his way.

The 19-year-old Mercedes driver also failed to score a point at Spa-Francorchamps last year, although he did set the fastest lap of the race, but should be far more competitive this time — providing his car holds up.

Antonelli has seen his advantage shrink from 66 points over Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton after Monaco in June to 25 points over teammate George Russell, who has had his own share of bad luck, due to mechanical problems.

At the same time, seven times world champion Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc have celebrated wins for a resurgent and increasingly competitive Ferrari, now looking for a third win in four races.

HAMILTON CAN EQUAL SCHUMACHER'S RECORD

Both are also previous winners at Spa, with Hamilton chasing a sixth Belgian triumph to equal the record held by former Ferrari great Michael Schumacher. 

Throw in the threat of Red Bull's four times champion Max Verstappen at a favourite and almost home track, as well as McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Mercedes have plenty on their plate.

"The last few races have underlined both where our strengths are and where we need to improve," said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.

"Reliability issues have cost us points and in a championship this competitive, that is something we cannot afford. There is no value in having the pace if we don't bring home the result.

"We have left too much on the table recently. We need to make sure that doesn't happen again, starting this weekend."     

Like Silverstone, Spa will involve more energy management than drivers would