Oscar Piastri delivered a masterful performance at Spa-Francorchamps to claim victory in a dramatic wet-dry Belgian Grand Prix, extending his championship lead over McLaren teammate Lando Norris to 16 points after a thrilling battle that showcased the unpredictable nature of Belgian weather. The race, delayed by nearly 80 minutes due to heavy rainfall, provided the perfect stage for Piastri to demonstrate his racecraft and strategic thinking. Here at Supercars.com.GH, we saw another compelling chapter in McLaren’s internal championship fight, with the Australian proving once again why he leads the drivers’ standings.
Rain Chaos
The Belgian Grand Prix began in dramatic fashion as heavy rain less than 30 minutes before the scheduled start forced Race Control to delay proceedings by almost 80 minutes. The race started behind the Safety Car with all drivers on intermediate tires, but was immediately red-flagged due to excessive spray and poor visibility. When racing finally resumed on Lap 5 under much brighter conditions, the stage was set for crucial strategic decisions about the transition to slick tires. Lewis Hamilton became the first driver to gamble on medium compound slicks on Lap 11, starting from the pit lane after power unit changes and charging through the field to finish an impressive seventh. The weather delay and wet-dry transition created a fascinating strategic battle, with tire management becoming crucial as the track dried completely and drivers struggled to make their medium compounds last to the finish.
Piastri’s Lap 5 Masterclass
The race’s defining moment came on Lap 5 when racing finally resumed, with Piastri executing a perfect overtake on polesitter Norris through the legendary Eau Rouge-Kemmel Straight sequence. The Australian’s brilliant exit from La Source and brave commitment through Eau Rouge gave him the slipstream advantage needed to complete the pass well before the Les Combes braking zone. From that moment forward, Piastri controlled the race with surgical precision, building a gap of over one second immediately and maintaining his advantage through the strategic phase. His decision to pit on Lap 12 for medium tires while Norris continued for another lap proved crucial, as the Briton’s subsequent stop for hard compounds and a slow front-left tire change left him 9.1 seconds adrift. Despite Norris’s relentless pursuit in the closing stages, bringing the gap down to just 3.1 seconds with three laps remaining, Piastri’s experience and composure shone through.
Championship Battle Intensifies
Piastri’s victory further establishes his championship credentials, extending his lead over Norris to 16 points in what is becoming one of the most compelling title fights in recent memory. Behind the McLaren duo, Charles Leclerc delivered an outstanding drive to claim the final podium position, holding off Saturday’s Sprint winner Max Verstappen throughout the race despite the Dutchman’s persistent pressure. The Ferrari driver’s defensive masterclass, particularly along the Kemmel Straight where Verstappen couldn’t find a way past despite better exits from La Source, highlighted the improved competitiveness of the Scuderia package. George Russell’s lonely fifth place for Mercedes was overshadowed by the brilliant performances of Alex Albon, who survived intense pressure from Hamilton to claim sixth, and Gabriel Bortoleto, who secured another strong points finish in ninth for Kick Sauber. The result sets up a fascinating continuation of the championship battle as Formula 1 heads to Hungary.
Join Supercars.com.GH next week and let’s see how the championship battle heats up at the Hungarian Grand Prix!