McLaren dominates Belgium: Piastri's victory puts Norris under pressure

Spa-Francorchamps, July 27, 2025 — On a soaking wet and tense afternoon in the Ardennes, Oscar Piastri delivered and took his sixth victory of the season at the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. What began with a rain delay of almost an hour and a half and several laps behind the safety car, culminated in mounting championship pressure.

Start: Rain delays the spectacle, but Piastri is sharp

After a nearly hour and a half delay due to heavy rain and thick fog, race control decided on a rolling start behind the safety car; a decision that led to divided reactions. Max Verstappen called it "overly cautious," while drivers like Russell and Leclerc emphasized safety after previous tragic incidents at Spa.

As soon as the field was released, Piastri immediately struck. With a perfect exit from Eau Rouge and a clever slipstream on the Kemmel Straight, he took the lead from polesitter Lando Norris on lap 5. Leclerc held on impressively in third place, with Verstappen breathing down his neck, while Russel launched an attack on the Dutchman.

Strategy: One pit stop creates little tension

The race developed into a strategically flat battle, with little room for creativity. Almost all the leaders opted for a single pit stop on the same lap, resulting in virtually no variation in the positions. McLaren decided against double-stacking its drivers and brought Piastri and Norris in with a single lap difference. Interestingly, Norris was given the hard compound, a choice that indicated a long, defensive final phase, while Piastri had to continue on the faster but less durable medium compound.

Ferrari and Red Bull also chose exactly the same time for their pit stops, with Leclerc and Verstappen both switching to the medium compound. The lack of strategic chaos resulted in a race where consistency was the key.

Piastri's masterclass; Championship pressure on Norris

Oscar Piastri seized his opportunity in the rain at Spa and delivered a flawless race, not only securing his sixth victory of the season but also cementing his position as title favorite. For Norris, who started the race as polesitter, it was a bitter pill to swallow: he was beaten again by his teammate, and the championship pressure is mounting. With the gap now at 16 points, the Briton faces a mental and strategic challenge in the second half of the season.

Leclerc secured valuable points for Ferrari with a third-place finish, while Verstappen failed to overtake him and had to settle for fourth place, just ahead of George Russell. Hamilton drove an impressive comeback, climbing from eighteen on the grid to seventh, right behind Albon's strong Williams.

Surprises and disappointments

Liam Lawson delivered a solid performance for RB, finishing eighth, while rookie Gabriel Bortoleto impressed with a strong ninth-place finish for Sauber. Pierre Gasly completed the top 10 for Alpine. Aston Martin had another disappointing afternoon, with both cars outside the points. Andrea Kimi Antonelli could only manage sixteenth place; no convincing comeback after his retirements in both Spielberg and Silverstone, and another race full of struggles for the young Mercedes driver.

Spa raises questions, FIA under fire

The long delay at the start reignited the debate about racing in the rain. Critics argued that the FIA had become too cautious, while others were pleased that safety was the priority. It remains a recurring discussion at Spa; a circuit known for its beauty, but also its risks.

Next stop: Hungary

Formula 1 now heads to the twisty and technical Hungaroring, where overtaking is difficult and qualifying often proves the key to success. McLaren travels to Budapest as the team to beat, with Oscar Piastri in absolute top form and Lando Norris needing to recover. Can Norris shake off the pressure? Will Verstappen recover at a circuit where he has previously excelled? Or will Ferrari strike out in the heat of Central Europe? One thing is certain: the 2025 championship is far from decided.