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Piastri Wins Dramatic Wet-Dry Belgian GP to Extend Championship Lead
Jul
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, BELGIUM – July 27, 2025
Piastri Wins Rain-Hit Belgian GP to Extend Championship Lead
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, BELGIUM – July 27, 2025
Oscar Piastri triumphed at a dramatic wet-to-dry Belgian Grand Prix, holding off his McLaren teammate and title rival, Lando Norris. As a result, he extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship to 16 points.
Delays and a Decisive Start
Torrential rain forced an 80-minute delay before the race finally began behind the Safety Car. Once conditions improved and the race got underway on Lap 5, Piastri wasted no time. He stayed close to Norris through Eau Rouge and made a decisive move along the Kemmel Straight to take the lead before the Les Combes braking zone.
Strategy Proves Crucial
As the track dried, teams switched to slicks. Piastri pitted on Lap 12 for medium tyres, gaining a key advantage in track position. Meanwhile, Norris stayed out an extra lap and switched to hards but lost time due to a slow stop, rejoining the race nine seconds behind.
Though Norris gradually closed the gap, a small mistake at La Source on the penultimate lap ended his late charge. Consequently, Piastri maintained a 3.4-second lead at the finish line.
Midfield Highlights and Final Standings
Charles Leclerc completed the podium after holding off Max Verstappen, while George Russell secured a comfortable fifth place. Further back, Alex Albon held off a fast-charging Lewis Hamilton, who climbed 11 places after starting from the pit lane.
Liam Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Pierre Gasly completed the top ten. Notably, all 20 drivers reached the finish line, and the race continued without interruption once the initial rain delay ended.
Top 10 Finishers
| Position | Driver | Time/Gap | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | 1:25:22.601 | 25 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | +3.415s | 18 |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | +20.185s | 15 |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | +21.731s | 12 |
| 5 | George Russell | +34.863s | 10 |
| 6 | Alex Albon | – | 8 |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | – | 6 |
| 8 | Liam Lawson | – | 4 |
| 9 | Gabriel Bortoleto | – | 2 |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | – | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Piastri’s bold Lap 1 overtake proved decisive.
- Hamilton impressed with a P18-to-P7 charge and earned Driver of the Day.
- Verstappen couldn’t get past Leclerc despite late pressure.
- All 20 drivers finished a race that transitioned from full wet to fully dry conditions.
Piastri’s Post-Race Thoughts
“I knew Lap 1 was my best shot at taking the lead. I managed the mediums toward the end, and we kept it under control. It was a great rebound after a frustrating Saturday.”
Up Next
Formula 1 heads straight to Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix (August 1–3), where the title fight between the McLaren duo is expected to intensify.
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