Oscar Piastri clinched victory at a rain-affected Belgian Grand Prix, overtaking teammate Lando Norris on the first competitive lap after a lengthy delay due to wet weather. Starting from second on the grid, Piastri made a decisive move through Eau Rouge and controlled the race from the front. McLaren opted for split tyre strategies—Norris on hards and Piastri on mediums—expecting the latter would require a second stop. However, Piastri expertly managed tyre wear and held on until the end, securing his sixth win of the season and extending his championship lead to 16 points.
Lando Norris, while gracious in defeat, acknowledged that Piastri simply executed better. He admitted small mistakes hampered his performance but praised McLaren’s first one-two finish at Spa in years. Norris, who started on pole, said the tyre choice and early positioning made the difference. Despite some disappointment, he looked ahead optimistically to next weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, where he has historically performed well and aims to bounce back in the title fight.
Charles Leclerc completed the podium in third for Ferrari, holding off Max Verstappen, who finished fourth after winning the Saturday sprint. Leclerc said the drying track played to Ferrari’s advantage, despite their downforce disadvantage. He noted the difficulty of maintaining a perfect line in damp conditions and admitted he had to block out radio distractions to stay focused. Still, he expressed satisfaction with the result and the direction of Ferrari’s recent upgrades.
The Belgian GP also marked a new chapter at Red Bull, as Laurent Mekies oversaw his first race as team principal following the sudden dismissal of Christian Horner. Although Verstappen couldn’t challenge for the win, the team showed signs of stability. Meanwhile, George Russell, Alexander Albon, Lewis Hamilton, and rookie Liam Lawson rounded out the top eight, with strong midfield performances from Bortoleto and Gasly.
Reactions across the paddock and fanbase highlighted Piastri’s calm under pressure, with many noting his racecraft and composure in tricky conditions. Former world champion Damon Hill remarked that the title battle between McLaren’s duo was now in full swing, and fans on social media debated whether Norris has the mental edge to match Piastri’s consistency. With back-to-back races and a tight points battle, all eyes now turn to Budapest.
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