Oscar Piastri Beats Lando Norris as McLaren Seals 1-2 Finish at Rain-Hit Belgian Grand Prix
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri clinched a well-earned victory at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, edging past teammate Lando Norris in a dramatic, rain-affected race at Spa-Francorchamps. The result marks a stellar 1-2 finish for the British team and a key moment in Piastri’s rising F1 career.
After a lengthy delay of over an hour due to heavy rain, the Grand Prix began cautiously behind the safety car. Once racing resumed on lap four, Piastri wasted no time moving past Norris and taking command at the front of the pack.
From there, the Australian maintained control of the race, expertly managing his tire degradation and pace despite increasing pressure from behind. Though Norris closed the gap late in the race, he couldn’t challenge Piastri seriously and had to settle for second place.
“I pushed as hard as I could,” Norris said after the race. “Oscar drove incredibly well. Conditions were difficult, and tire wear was a real issue, but we’ve secured a fantastic result for the team.”
Leclerc Fends Off Verstappen for Final Podium Spot
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc delivered a composed and tactical drive to secure third place, successfully holding off defending world champion Max Verstappen for the entire race. Despite Verstappen being the pre-race favorite and starting with momentum after winning Saturday’s Sprint, he couldn’t find the race pace needed to get past the Ferrari driver.
Leclerc’s podium finish is a vital result for Ferrari as they continue their battle with Red Bull and Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship.
“It was tough,” Leclerc admitted. “Max was behind me for almost the whole race, but I focused on staying consistent and not giving him any space. This podium means a lot for us.”
Saturday’s Sprint Race had seen Verstappen beat both McLaren drivers, but Sunday’s main event confirmed McLaren’s strengthening position in the championship race, with growing pace, strategy, and consistency to back their campaign.
