On Sunday, July 27, 2025, Australian driver Oscar Piastri secured a commanding victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, held at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit, marking McLaren’s sixth 1–2 finish of the season.
The race, heavily affected by adverse weather conditions, was delayed by over an hour and twenty minutes due to intense rainfall across the region. Race control was forced to implement strict safety measures before authorizing a rolling start behind the safety car. Right from the outset, Piastri demonstrated fierce determination, overtaking teammate Lando Norris with a clean and decisive maneuver during the first flying lap.
From that moment on, the Australian controlled the pace with composure and consistency, even as the track transitioned from wet to dry—a factor that forced all teams to rapidly adjust their tire strategies mid-race. Norris held firm in second place throughout the event, unable to close the gap enough to attempt a pass, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc claimed the final podium spot.
Leclerc benefited from a time penalty issued to Sergio Pérez and a late pit stop by Max Verstappen. The Dutchman, who had led the formation lap, voiced strong criticism of the race management, arguing that the prolonged delay was excessive and “kills the spirit of racing.”
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton—now driving for Ferrari—made an impressive comeback from the back of the grid to finish seventh, having served a penalty during qualifying. With this win, Piastri strengthens his lead in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship, now sitting at 266 points, extending his advantage to 16 points over teammate Lando Norris. McLaren also reinforces its dominance in the constructors’ standings, reaching 516 points and pulling ahead of Ferrari, which remains at 248.
The victory further cements McLaren’s current supremacy in the sport, while simultaneously intensifying the intra-team rivalry between its two top contenders. The next round will be crucial—either to maintain momentum or to shake up the balance in the final stretch of the season.
