Oscar Piastri delivered a commanding performance in treacherous conditions to win the rain-delayed Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, outpacing McLaren teammate and title rival Lando Norris in a gripping duel at Spa-Francorchamps.
The 24-year-old Australian seized the initiative early with a daring pass on Norris, charging down the Kemmel Straight after a bold slipstream through Eau Rouge, and never looked back. The move proved decisive, handing Piastri his sixth victory of the season and a 16-point cushion over Norris in the drivers’ standings.
“The first lap was always going to be my best shot,” said Piastri. “I got a great exit out of Turn One and lifted as little as I dared through Eau Rouge. We managed the race well after that.”
Piastri now leads the standings on 266 points, with Norris on 250. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen — fourth on Sunday — remains third overall but trails by a substantial 81 points as the championship increasingly shapes into a two-horse race.
The race began with high drama as heavy rain and poor visibility forced a red flag after the formation lap, resulting in a delay of an hour and 20 minutes. A rolling start followed after four laps behind the safety car to assess track conditions.
Despite a minor battery issue mid-race, Norris accepted defeat graciously. “Oscar just did a good job. He committed more through Eau Rouge and got the run. Nothing to complain about. He deserved it today.”
McLaren’s one-two finish — their third in succession and sixth in 13 races — further cemented their dominance this season. The team now leads the Constructors’ Championship with 516 points, a commanding margin over Ferrari (248), with Mercedes (220) slipping further behind.
Charles Leclerc completed the podium in third for Ferrari, but was never in contention for the win. The drama unfolded behind the leaders, with tyre strategy proving crucial on the drying track.
Piastri switched to medium tyres on lap 12, while Norris opted for hards a lap later, rejoining nine seconds adrift. Though Norris clawed back time late in the race, minor mistakes and Piastri’s tyre management kept the Australian out of reach. He crossed the line 3.415 seconds ahead.
Saturday sprint race winner Verstappen, still feeling the ripple effects of team boss Christian Horner’s recent departure, came home fourth. George Russell secured fifth for Mercedes, while Alex Albon held off Lewis Hamilton for sixth.
Hamilton, starting from the pit lane alongside three others, benefited from the rolling start and a fresh engine installed overnight. He was also the first to switch to slicks, a bold call that helped him gain six places in the drying conditions.
Liam Lawson impressed with eighth for Racing Bulls, followed by Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) in ninth and Pierre Gasly (Alpine), who rounded out the top ten.
With the Hungarian Grand Prix up next before the August break, Piastri’s momentum is undeniable — and the championship battle is boiling down to an all-McLaren affair.