McLaren’s Oscar Piastri clinched victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, outpacing teammate Lando Norris to secure a 1-2 finish for the team at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The Australian’s sixth win of the 2025 Formula 1 season solidified his position at the top of the drivers’ championship, extending his lead over Norris to 16 points in a race marked by dramatic weather conditions and tactical brilliance.
The race began under challenging circumstances, with heavy rain delaying the start by over an hour. After four laps behind the safety car, the field was unleashed for racing on lap five, and Piastri wasted no time asserting his dominance. Starting second behind pole-sitter Norris, the 24-year-old Australian executed a daring overtake on the first racing lap, sweeping around the outside of his teammate through the Kemmel Straight after a bold run through Eau Rouge. “I knew lap one was my best chance to win the race,” Piastri said post-race. “I got a good exit out of Turn 1, lifted as little as I dared, and it paid off.”
Piastri’s early move set the tone for a controlled performance. Despite the wet conditions early on, McLaren’s decision to split strategies between their drivers proved pivotal. Piastri switched to medium tyres on lap 12, while Norris, pitting a lap later, opted for the harder compound in a bid to go longer. The choice gave Norris a potential advantage in the closing stages, but Piastri’s impeccable tyre management ensured he maintained a lead of over three seconds by the chequered flag. “Oscar just did a good job at the start,” Norris conceded. “He deserved it today. I made a few mistakes, and that was it.”
The race was not without its challenges. The lingering effects of the rain-soaked track tested drivers’ nerve, particularly in the early laps. Piastri, however, remained unfazed, nursing his medium tyres through the final stint despite concerns about degradation. “The last five or six laps were tough on the mediums,” he admitted. “But we managed it well and kept the gap.”
Behind the McLaren duo, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured third, fending off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who finished fourth in the team’s first race since the departure of team principal Christian Horner. Leclerc’s podium was a morale boost for Ferrari, though he admitted the McLarens were “on another planet” in terms of pace. Verstappen, who won Saturday’s sprint race, was unable to challenge for a podium after an early failed move on Leclerc. “It was a tough race,” Leclerc said. “Max was close the whole time, but we held on.”
Mercedes’ George Russell claimed fifth, while Williams’ Alex Albon impressed with a sixth-place finish. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, starting from 18th after a pit-lane start, produced a remarkable recovery to finish seventh, capitalising on early wet conditions to carve through the field. “It was a strong recovery, but we lost momentum later on,” Hamilton noted.
McLaren’s dominance further solidified their grip on the constructors’ championship, with a 248-point lead. The result marks their third consecutive 1-2 finish and their first Belgian Grand Prix victory since Jenson Button’s triumph in 2012. Piastri’s eighth career win underscores his meteoric rise, with the Melbourne-born driver now firmly in the driver’s seat for the 2025 title.
As Formula 1 heads to the Hungarian Grand Prix next week, the final race before the summer break, Piastri’s composure under pressure has sent a clear message to his rivals. “This is his championship to lose now,” one observer noted, reflecting the growing sentiment that Piastri’s blend of speed and precision makes him the man to beat. For now, the Australian remains focused: “We’re in a good position, but there’s a long way to go. We’ll keep pushing.”