Oscar Piastri delivered his sixth triumph of the 2025 Formula 1 season by finishing ahead of teammate Lando Norris in the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, under challenging wet-to-dry conditions. This result marked another commanding McLaren 1-2 finish, demonstrating the team’s strength on a race day marked by shifting weather and strategic complexity.
Making the most of a distinctive one-stop strategy that involved transitioning from intermediate to medium tyres, Piastri successfully resisted Norris’s pursuit on a drying track. Behind the McLarens, Charles Leclerc outpaced Max Verstappen to claim third place, rounding out the podium.
Delayed Start and Weather Challenges Shape the Race’s Opening
The start of the Belgian Grand Prix faced significant delays when poor visibility caused by persistent rain forced the suspension of the initial start procedure. Many drivers reported limited sightlines during the formation lap, prompting race officials to pause proceedings to ensure safety.
Additional showers complicated efforts to clear the circuit, causing race control to delay the start by over an hour. When conditions improved enough, the race began at 16:20 local time with four safety car laps, followed by a rolling start that allowed the competition to unfold realistically.
Piastri Takes Lead with Aggressive Moves Early in the Race
As racing resumed on lap five of 44, Lando Norris lost control at La Source, sliding wide and allowing Oscar Piastri to close the gap rapidly. Piastri bravely navigated the demanding Eau Rouge and Raidillon corners before overtaking Norris on the Kemmel Straight to lead through Les Combes. Both McLarens quickly separated themselves from the pack, establishing a clear gap ahead of Charles Leclerc.
Further down the field, George Russell moved up by passing Alex Albon at the same Les Combes corner on the following lap, showing strong competitive form. Meanwhile, Leclerc was seen to slow Verstappen’s charge by defending well with a lower downforce Ferrari setup, which helped maintain his third place.
Midfield Moves and Strategic Pit Stops Influence Race Dynamics
One of the most notable early race performances came from Lewis Hamilton. Starting from the pitlane equipped with a fresh Ferrari power unit, the seven-time world champion rapidly moved through the midfield, gaining three positions in just four laps. Hamilton’s energy on fresh tyres offered a glimpse of potential comebacks.
Hamilton and several other drivers, including Nico Hulkenberg, Pierre Gasly, and Fernando Alonso, made early switches to slick medium tyres around lap 11. Piastri responded by pitting on lap 12 and was quickly followed by Leclerc and Verstappen. Norris postponed his pit stop by one lap, but suffered a slower service, rejoining the track eight seconds behind Piastri, putting him at a disadvantage for the remainder of the race.
Tyre Strategies Create a Tactical Battle Between McLaren Teammates
After all the top runners had changed tyres, positions remained stable in the top six, but Hamilton’s gamble on the mediums paid off, as he climbed to eighth before overtaking Liam Lawson for seventh. The strategic contrast between Piastri and Norris became clear: Piastri committed to preserving his medium tyres until the finish, while Norris relied on the more durable but slower hard tyres to attempt a late surge.
This tactical divergence kept their lap times nearly identical as the race progressed. Norris gradually reduced Piastri’s advantage, but it was evident he needed Piastri to pit again for the gap to close meaningfully. Piastri managed to maintain his tyre performance and a sufficient lead, ultimately crossing the finish line 3.4 seconds ahead to secure the win and reinforce McLaren’s dominant weekend.
Top Contenders Behind McLaren and Midfield Performances
Charles Leclerc completed the podium well behind the dominant pair, finishing more than 20 seconds after Piastri. Max Verstappen held fourth place but was unable to mount a significant challenge to the Ferrari. George Russell secured fifth, delivering a respectable result for Mercedes amid concerns about the team’s performance relative to Ferrari’s improvements this season.
Lewis Hamilton battled for sixth but was unable to overtake Alex Albon’s defensive Williams, while Liam Lawson took eighth in an otherwise uneventful race. Gabriel Bortoleto managed to pass teammate Nico Hulkenberg to finish ninth, gaining ground as Hulkenberg’s later second pit stop failed to result in a points-paying position. Pierre Gasly rounded out the top ten, securing the final points on offer.
Race Completion and Impact on Championship Standings
Several drivers who began the race from the pitlane, including Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Alonso, and Carlos Sainz, struggled to make significant progress and ended up at the back of the field. All 20 participants reached the finish line, with Isack Hadjar being the only driver lapped due to unresolved issues affecting his Racing Bulls car.
With this victory, Piastri extended his championship lead over Norris by seven points, increasing the margin to 16 points. Verstappen continues to trail third, now 81 points behind the McLaren duo. Meanwhile, Ferrari solidified its hold on second place in the constructors’ championship, maintaining an advantage over Mercedes and Red Bull as the season progresses.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is number 13 banned in F1?
A. Yes, the number 13 is permitted. Pastor Maldonado chose #13 when the permanent number system was introduced in 2014. While some cultures see 13 as unlucky, F1 lets drivers decide their numbers.
Q. Which F1 driver has ADHD?
A. Lewis Hamilton’s experiences with ADHD and dyslexia have deeply influenced his life both in racing and outside of it. His journey offers a new perspective on excelling in Formula 1. It also highlights the importance of acknowledging learning differences.
Q. Is 69 allowed in F1?
A. In Formula 1, each driver gets to pick a permanent number ranging from 2 to 99, except 17, for their entire career.