After a lengthy rain delay, Oscar Piastri emerged victorious in the Belgian Grand Prix by executing a crucial move early on. Lando Norris, who had secured pole position, was outmaneuvered by Piastri, his Formula 1 title contender teammate. The race at Circuit Spa-Francorchamps faced a delay of approximately 90 minutes due to heavy rain causing poor visibility, prompting race control to be cautious.
Piastri seized the lead from Norris on the first lap, replicating a move he had missed in the Sprint race against Max Verstappen. Norris opted for hard tires while others chose mediums as the track dried. While Norris gained speed later in the race, Piastri managed his tires effectively, maintaining a significant lead to secure victory.
Charles Leclerc finished third, ahead of Verstappen, following a strong qualifying performance. Lewis Hamilton, starting from the pit lane after a disappointing qualifying, impressively recovered to seventh place in his Ferrari. The race began with a rolling start after an initial attempt was aborted due to poor visibility, favoring Norris initially.
As Piastri led the race, he pitted first to switch to slick tires, while Norris lagged behind on slower rubber. Norris later closed the gap but a mistake hindered his chances of catching Piastri. Piastri’s strategic tire choice proved pivotal as he extended his lead over Norris, heading into the next race with a 17-point advantage in the title race.
