Belgian GP: Piastri dominates Norris to extend championship lead

A delayed weather-hit Belgian Grand Prix saw Oscar Piastri claim his sixth win of the 2025 F1 season, leading home teammate Lando Norris as McLaren sealed anorger commanding 1–2 finish in Spa’s changeable conditions.

The race began more than an hour late due to heavy rain and poor visibility, with four laps behind the safety car before a rolling start at 16:20 local time.

Once underway, the track conditions justified all drivers to begin on intermediate tyres. At proceedings kicked off, Piastri wasted no time attacking Norris, who had started from pole. A committed run through Eau Rouge allowed the Australian to breeze past his teammate on the Kemmel Straight and seize the lead at Les Combes.

• 2025 Belgian Grand Prix - Race results

Strategy Splits the McLarens

As the conditions evolved, strategic calls proved decisive. With the track drying quickly, Lewis Hamilton and a handful of others gambled early for slicks on lap 12, with the seven-time champion opting for mediums.

That decision prompted Piastri to pit on the same lap, followed by Leclerc and Verstappen. Norris stayed out an extra lap, rejoining eight seconds behind his teammate.

To give Norris a potential edge, McLaren fitted his car with hard tyres, committing to a one-stop strategy but with greater durability than Piastri’s mediums. It became a tactical chess match between the two teammates: Piastri managing tyre wear, Norris trying to claw back time on slower rubber.

Further back, Hamilton’s early switch to slicks paid dividends. Starting from the pit lane with a fresh Ferrari power unit, he climbed from 16th to seventh by mid-race, thanks in part to slick pit timing and some clean overtakes, including one on Liam Lawson.

However, his progress stalled behind Alex Albon’s Williams, with the Anglo-Thai driver defending robustly to hold sixth.

Leclerc Holds Off Verstappen

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured third, fending off a muted challenge from Max Verstappen. The Dutchman, driving with slightly more downforce, found it difficult to overtake on a circuit that usually suits Red Bull. Despite staying within striking distance early on, Verstappen’s pace faded as Leclerc maintained a steady buffer.

George Russell came home fifth, though 13 seconds behind Verstappen, underlining Mercedes’ ongoing struggle to match Ferrari’s recent gains. Behind Albon and Hamilton, Lawson enjoyed a quiet but effective run to eighth for Racing Bulls.

Final Points and Team Orders

Gabriel Bortoleto was allowed past Sauber teammate Nico Hulkenberg in the closing stages to finish ninth, the rookie showing stronger pace late on. Hulkenberg made a second stop in search of quicker lap times but couldn't convert it into points, ending up 12th behind Pierre Gasly, who inherited the final point in 10th after the Sauber's second-stop misfire.

Among those starting from the pit lane, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Antonelli, and Carlos Sainz endured uneventful afternoons, finishing well outside the points. All 20 cars finished the race, with Isack Hadjar the only driver to be lapped, his Racing Bulls machine hampered by persistent technical issues.

Piastri Extends Title Lead

The result extends Piastri’s championship lead over Norris to 16 points, while Verstappen slips further behind, now 81 points adrift.

McLaren’s dominance in mixed conditions has become a hallmark of 2025, and with a third 1–2 of the year, the Woking outfit tightens its grip on both titles. Ferrari, meanwhile, edges further clear of Mercedes and Red Bull in the battle for second in the constructors' standings.

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