In a gripping battle at Spa-Francorchamps, Oscar Piastri passed teammate Lando Norris to claim the rain-postponed Belgian Grand Prix. When the safety car came to the inside and Norris was helpless to do anything about it, the McLaren driver kept his head in the perilous circumstance and took firm action.
Rain Disruption
Heavy rain and water standing on the track forced officials to delay the start by over an hour. Once the rain had subsided and the track began to improve gradually, teams scrambled to adjust their strategy. The fans were eager to see how the young McLaren team would handle the situation despite the delay.
Lando Norris
With a clear beginning and early control of the race, Lando Norris showed pace and precision in the initial laps. But when conditions shifted and the track dried, he lost his pace and struggled to maintain his intermediate tires warm. Piastri, who had gone cautious and patient with his tires, managed to get past that.
Oscar Piastri
With each lap, Oscar Piastri edged closer to his teammate, and by Lap 27, he finally made contact. He took the lead by diving down the inside of Les Combes, surprising Norris. Piastri took full advantage of McLaren’s freedom to race by making a crisp and assured pass.
McLaren
McLaren enjoyed a 1-2 victory, its first since 2021, despite internal strife. The team made the right calls under changing conditions and executed flawless pit stops. Praise for both drivers aside, team principal Andrea Stella noted that Piastri’s calmness was instrumental in the victory.
Reaction to the Result
“This is amazing,” Piastri stated after the race. In challenging conditions, we made the right choices, and I kept myself clean when it mattered most.
“I’m glad for the team, but it’s disappointing to lose the lead,” Norris explained, showing a mixture of emotions. Oscar was the one who should have won, and I lost my pace at the end.
F1 Season
The rain added unpredictability to an already unpredictable 2025 Formula One season. Piastri’s win pushed him higher up the drivers’ table and gave him his second podium of the season. Although he was disappointed, Norris continued to pick up many points. The Spa GP proved to be one of the toughest circuits on the calendar by producing the drama once again.
Title Fight
As the Dutch Grand Prix looms, McLaren is riding high right now. Both drivers have the capability of winning a race, so the team has two title contenders to deal with. The championship storyline is altered with Piastri’s victory, and Norris will want to respond in Zandvoort.
