At the Belgian Grand Prix, McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris replicated a historic achievement for the team by securing their sixth 1-2 finish of the season, a milestone last reached by McLaren in 1988. This remarkable performance underscores McLaren’s resurgence in Formula 1 and intensifies the championship battle as the season approaches its critical stages.
The pair’s dominance at Spa-Francorchamps signals a significant turnaround for McLaren, which struggled during the turbo-hybrid era but has now reemerged as a championship contender. Their consistent teamwork and competitive pace recall McLaren’s heyday when Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost recorded a similar number of 1-2 finishes during their fierce rivalry in the late 1980s.
Historic Context of McLaren’s Season Success
McLaren’s achievement of six 1-2 finishes this year marks the highest number the team has attained in a single season since 1988 when now-legendary drivers Senna and Prost combined for ten such results. Under Ron Dennis’ leadership and with Honda engines powering their cars, that McLaren squad won 15 of 16 races and secured the World Championship, thanks to the outstanding performances of both drivers.
In contrast, the current pairing of Norris and Piastri is characterized by mutual respect and professionalism, with little of the rivalry tension seen in past eras. Aside from a brief incident in Canada, their relationship has remained focused and efficient, contributing to a productive season for both drivers and the team.
McLaren’s Rise in the Constructors’ Championship
The Belgian GP victory raises McLaren’s total all-time 1-2 finishes to 55, placing them third behind Ferrari and Mercedes, who have 85 and 59 respectively. Ferrari’s latest double podium came at the 2024 Australian Grand Prix with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, while Mercedes last achieved a 1-2 finish at the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix.
McLaren’s recent string of 1-2 results began in China, marking their 50th 1-2 finish historically, and continued with strong performances in Miami, Spain, Austria, Britain, and Belgium. This consistent form has propelled McLaren to the top of the Constructors’ Championship, where they currently hold 516 points—an impressive 268 points ahead of Ferrari after 13 races.
Details of the Belgian Grand Prix Battle
The race at Spa encountered a delayed start due to persistent rain, which led to a 90-minute pause with vehicles confined to the pit lane. When the race began under the Safety Car on the first lap, Norris and Piastri occupied the front-row positions. By lap four, Oscar Piastri used the slipstream on the Kemmel Straight to overtake his teammate Norris and take the lead at Les Combes, a position he maintained throughout.
As the track dried, Piastri pitted on lap 12 for medium tires, while Norris delayed his stop by a lap to switch to hard tires, hoping to exploit a stronger final stint. Norris managed to reduce the gap from over nine seconds down to just over three seconds by lap 43 but could not close sufficiently to challenge Piastri for the win.
Insights from McLaren’s Team Principal Andrea Stella
Following the race, Team Principal Andrea Stella commented on the intense competition between the McLaren drivers, highlighting their high level of performance:
“There’s very, very little between our two drivers, and this is because the two drivers are racing at a very, very high level. We’re lucky at McLaren to have two drivers that deservedly are fighting for the World Championship. I think the difference will be made by the accuracy, the precision, the quality of the execution.”
—Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal
Stella also reflected on managing internal competition, drawing from his experience with former champions Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, and Kimi Raikkonen:
“Like I said before, we’ve two drivers, which to the standards that even myself in my career I’ve been close to, driving with multiple world champions. I think Lando and Oscar are operating at that level, at the level of deservedly being in contention for the Drivers’ World Championship.”
—Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal
Current Championship Standings and Outlook
With the summer break approaching, the drivers’ championship battle centers firmly on McLaren’s two talents. Oscar Piastri leads the standings with 266 points, narrowly ahead of teammate Lando Norris, who has 250 points. The defending world champion Max Verstappen trails in third place with 185 points, signaling a shift in competitive momentum.
The consistency and skill demonstrated by Piastri and Norris suggest that McLaren is well positioned to challenge for both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles. Their seamless partnership and the team’s strategic execution highlight a revitalized McLaren that has moved beyond merely contending to actually threatening to claim the top honors this season.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Oscar Piastri a nice person?
A. This seems to be the first time Oscar Piastri, known for his calm personality, appeared very upset after a race. His reaction is understandable. In some places, people would call his mood ‘grumpy.’
Q. Has Oscar Piastri ever won a race in F1?
A. By the time of the 2025 British Grand Prix, Piastri has secured seven victories, four pole positions, seven fastest laps, and 20 podium finishes in Formula One. He is under contract to stay with McLaren through the 2028 season.
Q. Has Oscar Piastri won an F1 race?
A. Oscar Piastri won the Belgian Grand Prix, beating his McLaren teammate and competitor, Lando Norris. The mixed weather race took place at Spa-Francorchamps, and Piastri’s win increased his Championship lead to 16 points.
Q. Has Oscar Piastri won a race in F1?
A. Oscar Piastri was thrilled to come back strong after missing the win in Saturday’s Sprint. He won the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday. The Australian was proud of his exciting overtake on teammate Lando Norris during the first lap, which helped him take the lead.