Oscar Piastri secured victory at the Belgian Grand Prix with a commanding performance for McLaren, finishing ahead of teammate Lando Norris in second and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in third. Max Verstappen came in fourth for Red Bull, while Lewis Hamilton climbed from 18th on the grid to seventh, making the most of the unpredictable wet and dry conditions.
The race, delayed by nearly 90 minutes due to heavy rain, finally got underway with Piastri seizing the lead from Norris with a precise move into Les Combes. Once in front, he maintained control, delivering a flawless drive despite Norris’s efforts to challenge him with an alternative tire strategy.
Piastri’s performance reaffirmed his formidable presence this season, showing both composure and determination even when not starting from pole. Although Norris had outpaced him in qualifying, Piastri’s ability to dictate the race from the front—cool, calculated, and unshakable—sent a clear message to his rivals that the 24-year-old Australian has the makings of a future champion.
This win marks his sixth in 13 races, a record unmatched by any other driver. While the season opened with Norris taking victory in Australia, Piastri has since dominated, steadily building a 16-point lead with 11 rounds remaining in what is shaping up to be a closely contested battle.
Intermittent rain caused further disruptions, with another downpour delaying the start after just one formation lap due to poor visibility. After over an hour in the pits, the race finally began behind the safety car for four laps before going green.
Norris initially led but was quickly overtaken by Piastri, who surged ahead through Eau Rouge and capitalized on the Kemmel straight slipstream to take the lead at Les Combes, with Leclerc and Verstappen following.
Meanwhile, Hamilton—starting from the pit lane after a power unit change—adapted well to the wet conditions, climbing to 13th within 10 laps. A bold early switch to slick tires on lap 12, though dropping him briefly to 17th, ultimately proved the right call as the track dried.
Piastri, Verstappen, and others followed with their own pit stops shortly after, ensuring the race remained tightly contested.
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