Oscar Piastri Wins Belgian Grand Prix After Rain Delay, Extends Championship Lead

July-28-2025, 15:45 EDT

Oscar Piastri emerged victorious in a rain-affected Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, outpacing his McLaren teammate and title rival Lando Norris after a delayed start at Spa-Francorchamps. The win marks Piastri’s sixth of the season and gives him a wider margin in the driver standings as the season intensifies.

Rain causes significant delay at Spa

Heavy rain at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit led to over an hour of delay before racing could officially begin. When the race finally got underway behind the safety car, drivers navigated cautiously through the damp conditions.

The safety car pulled into the pits at the end of lap four, allowing for true racing to begin. It was at this point that Oscar Piastri seized his opportunity, launching an aggressive but calculated move past Lando Norris as the two McLaren drivers powered through the famed Eau Rouge and Raidillon corners.

“I knew I was going to try and lift a little less than Lando did and try to make it stick,” said Piastri after the race, admitting that the car felt “lively” as he made the bold overtake.

McLaren teammates battle for the title

While the Belgian Grand Prix brought another 1–2 finish for McLaren, it was far from routine. Piastri’s daring overtake on the first competitive lap gave him the lead, and despite increasing pressure from Norris in the closing laps, the Australian held his position.

Norris, hampered by a minor battery issue, was unable to mount a final challenge. McLaren CEO Zak Brown confirmed the issue in a post-race interview with Sky Sports: “There was a small battery issue which we’ve got to look at.”

Despite Norris narrowing the gap late in the race, Piastri managed tire wear effectively and crossed the finish line first, adding 25 valuable points to his championship campaign.

Leclerc holds off Verstappen for third

Behind the leading McLarens, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc claimed third place after a strong defensive drive against Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Leclerc managed to keep the reigning world champion behind him for the duration of the race, denying Verstappen a podium finish in Red Bull’s first Grand Prix following the departure of team principal Christian Horner.

Verstappen, who started just behind Leclerc, failed to make a pass stick on the opening lap and was unable to close the gap thereafter.

Piastri pulls ahead in driver standings

Sunday’s victory allows Oscar Piastri to extend his championship lead over Norris from nine to 16 points. The result also denied Norris a third consecutive Grand Prix win, a streak that would have strengthened his own title bid.

This was the second time in two days that Piastri held off Norris, having finished ahead of him in Saturday’s sprint race, where both were outpaced by Max Verstappen. Interestingly, Piastri’s winning move on Sunday mirrored Verstappen’s sprint overtake on him the day before—executed at the same corner and under similar conditions.

“Turns out starting second at Spa is not so bad after all,” Piastri said, reflecting on his grid position and strategic approach.

The win marks McLaren’s first Belgian Grand Prix victory since Jenson Button triumphed at the track in 2012.

Hamilton climbs to seventh after starting 18th

Further down the grid, Lewis Hamilton delivered a gritty performance, climbing from 18th to 7th on a track still wet from earlier rainfall. The seven-time world champion made significant progress in the early laps, overtaking multiple cars in challenging conditions. However, his momentum faded after switching to dry tires, and he was unable to advance further in the later stages of the race.

Hamilton’s teammate George Russell finished fifth after passing Alex Albon early in the race. Albon, driving for Williams, held on to sixth place, fending off Hamilton in the closing laps.

Points finish for Lawson, Bortoleto, and Gasly

Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson finished eighth, delivering a solid result for the team. Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto came in ninth, while Pierre Gasly rounded out the top ten for Alpine.

These midfield performances reflect the increasingly competitive nature of the 2025 F1 grid, particularly in wet or variable conditions where strategy and tire management often determine race outcomes.

Key takeaways from the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix

• Oscar Piastri’s sixth win of the season puts him firmly at the top of the championship standings.
• Lando Norris, despite a strong performance and a late charge, was hampered by a minor battery issue and had to settle for second.
• Charles Leclerc demonstrated excellent defensive driving to keep Max Verstappen off the podium.
• Lewis Hamilton’s climb from 18th to 7th showcased his driving skill but highlighted Mercedes’ ongoing challenges.
• Rain played a major role, delaying the start by over an hour and affecting tire strategies early in the race.

Looking ahead: The title race tightens

With a 16-point lead, Piastri has taken a commanding position in the 2025 F1 title race. However, with several races remaining and Norris continuing to show strong form, the championship is far from settled.

As the season progresses, McLaren’s internal rivalry will likely intensify, adding excitement and intrigue to the remaining rounds. Fans and teams alike will be watching closely to see whether Piastri can maintain his edge—or if Norris will strike back.

Source: AP News – Piastri beats Norris to win Formula 1’s rain-delayed Belgian Grand Prix