Torrential rain once again hindered the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday. Oscar Piastri holding firm against teammate Lando Norris to take a composed victory for McLaren in treacherous and evolving conditions.
The race’s start was delayed due to heavy rainfall, with visibility too poor for a standing start, according to the race director. Race Control opted for a red flag before confirming a rolling start behind the Safety Car at 16:20 track time. All 20 drivers began on fresh intermediate tyres.
Pit Lane Starters Shake Up the Order
Four drivers – Carlos Sainz, Lewis Hamiliton, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Antonelli – started from the pit lane after making wet-weather setup changes in breach of parc fermé regulations. Which didn’t end up impacting the race, as everyone followed the Safety Car out of the fast lane of the pit lane.
When racing finally got underway on Lap 4, Norrid led the field, but not for long. A snap of oversteer on the run up to Les Combes opened the door for Piastri, who swept past on the Kemmel Straight to snatch the lead. It was a move that would define the race. Although McLaren’s choice to split strategies would ensure drama until the final laps.
Midfield Battles Heat Up
Behind them, Charles Leclerc found himself locked in a defensive battle with Max Verstappen, while George Russell showed his traditional wet-weather finesse to climb into fifth. Hamilton, despite his pit lane start, was carving through the midfield – passing rivals like Colapinto, Hülkenberg, and Gasly with confidence. By Lap 15, he was up to seventh.
The Critical Switch to Slicks
As the track dried and DRS was enabled, the all-important switch to slicks became the race’s focal point. Piastri was one of the first on Lap 13 to swap to mediums. Norris had to wait a lap and decided on the hardest compound. The difference would set up a fascinating intra-team showdown.
Pit lane chaos – with Mercedes double-stacking and mechanics stumbling – played into Hamilton’s hands. Tsunoda, Ocon and Hadjar all lost significant ground by pitting one lap too late. Hadjar, who had qualified well in eighth, dropped out of the points entirely and would later pit again, struggling for pace throughout.
McLaren’s Internal Duel Unfolds
After the stops, Piastri emerged with a commanding eight-second lead, but Norris – on hards and targeting a one-stop – began to chip away at the deficit lap by lap. McLaren left the strategy in their drivers’ hands, setting the stage for a cerebral, high-stakes chess match.
Piastri, running the softer compound, had to balance pace with tyre preservation. Norris, meanwhile, had more durable tyres but a longer stint ahead. Both were pushing the limits – Norris even running wide at Pouhon on Lap 27, temporarily losing ground.
Tactical Moves in the Midfield
Behind them, Leclerc continued to fend off Verstappen, with Russell slowly dropping back. Hamilton, meanwhile, stalked Albon in sixth, but dirty air and graining tyres hampered his progress. Further back, Bortoleto – despite his shaky wet record – climbed into the points after a patient move on teammate Hülkenberg, with the Kick Sauber pair running solidly in the top ten.
Closing Laps Test Tyres and Nerves
The tension at the front remained unbroken. Every lap, Norris clawed back a few tenths, edging the gap down to just over eight seconds by Lap 30. Yet Piastri, calm as ever, reported his tyres were holding up, and McLaren assured him he could manage to the flag. With no further pit stops planned, it became a test of tyre life and nerve.
Though a few endfielders – including Colapinto and Alonso – gambled on a second stop for fresh mediums, the front remained unchanged. The anticipated late-race charge from Norris never fully materialised, his hard tyres plateauing as Piastri expertly managed his pace.
Piastri Holds Firm as Norris Falls Short
By Lap 33, Piastri was in control. He held back just enough pace to defend if needed, avoiding any unnecessary risks. Norris pushed hard, setting multiple fastest laps, but the gap stayed too large for a final attack.
Further back, Verstappen continued to vent frustration over Race Control’s early caution and his inability to pass Leclerc, who held firm in third. Russell maintained fifth, while Albon’s strong defensive driving kept Hamilton behind in seventh.
Composure and Courage Rewarded at Spa
In a race that began with uncertainty and ended in strategic intrigue, it was McLaren who emerged triumphant – with Piastri delivering a reminder of his composure in challenging conditions, and Norris left wondering whether the bold call for hards could have gone just a lap earlier.
As ever at Spa, the weather wrote the opening act, but it was the drivers – and a few brave strategy calls – who delivered the drama.