Story perspectives

Software Glitch Cuts Power, Verstappen Passes Antonelli at Spa

7/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

At Spa-Francorchamps, Kimi Antonelli and George Russell lost 30-40% battery charge and hit early deployment cut-offs.
The software fault gave Russell a stricter power limit than Antonelli.
Max Verstappen pressed the overtake button, gained power and passed Antonelli into Eau Rouge.
Lewis Hamilton’s contact knocked Russell out after Hamilton and Charles Leclerc used power to overtake him on the Kemmel straight, leaving Russell 0.5 sec and Oscar Piastri 0.2 sec behind teammates.

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Story summary

At Spa-Francorchamps, Kimi Antonelli and George Russell lost 30-40% battery charge and hit early deployment cut-offs.
The software fault gave Russell a stricter power limit than Antonelli.
Max Verstappen pressed the overtake button, gained power and passed Antonelli into Eau Rouge.
Lewis Hamilton’s contact knocked Russell out after Hamilton and Charles Leclerc used power to overtake him on the Kemmel straight, leaving Russell 0.5 sec and Oscar Piastri 0.2 sec behind teammates.