Oscar Piastri displayed remarkable patience before seizing his opportunity to secure victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, outpacing his McLaren teammate and title contender, Lando Norris, following a weather-induced delay. After a prolonged wait of over an hour due to heavy rain, the race began under a safety car, which came off the track on lap four. Piastri swiftly manoeuvred past Norris during the first lap, taking advantage of his aggressive tactic in the challenging Eau Rouge corner.
Norris reported battery issues, prompting McLaren’s CEO, Zak Brown, to note that they would investigate a minor battery malfunction. Despite Norris closing the gap towards the end of the race, Piastri skillfully held onto his lead, even with worn tyres. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured third place by maintaining his position ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who couldn’t find a way past throughout the race.
In the championship context, Piastri widened his lead over Norris from nine points to sixteen, denying Norris a third consecutive Grand Prix win. This victory marked Piastri’s sixth win of the season and made him the first McLaren driver to triumph at the Belgian Grand Prix since Jenson Button in 2012.
The race largely unfolded without major incidents after the initial laps, with most competitors transitioning to dry tyres around the same time. After the tense early stages, the event progressed more smoothly than the previous chaotic race in Britain. Piastri, who started second behind Norris, expressed satisfaction with his positioning at Spa, celebrating his victory amid the challenges posed by the track and weather.
As the race unfolded, Mercedes’ George Russell secured fifth place behind Williams’ Alex Albon, who finished sixth. Lewis Hamilton, starting from 18th, climbed to seventh but struggled to maintain his initial momentum on the slick track. Other notable finishes included Liam Lawson in eighth, Gabriel Bortoleto in ninth for Sauber, and Pierre Gasly rounding out the top ten for Alpine.
In conclusion, Piastri’s strategic overtaking and resilient performance solidified his status in the championship standings, while the unfolding drama amongst his teammates and rivals added to the excitement of the race.