Oscar Piastri wins the 2025 Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix

Oscar Piastri won the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix, finishing ahead of his teammate Lando Norris on a day that started 80 minutes late due to heavy rainfall. The McLaren driver extends his lead in the Drivers' Championship to 16 points over Norris.

Photo By Mclaren

Hamilton climbed 11 positions from pit lane

Lewis Hamilton delivered the most spectacular comeback of the day. The seven-time world champion started from the pit lane with a brand-new Ferrari engine and climbed from 16th to 7th place. His early decision to switch to slick tires on lap 12 proved correct, setting the best sector times in the second and third sectors.

"I knew it was now or never," Hamilton commented. "The new engine gave me confidence to attack from the beginning."

The decisive move at Eau Rouge

The defining moment came on lap 5, when marshals released the field after four laps behind the safety car. Norris suffered a slip at La Source that allowed Piastri to close in dangerously. The McLaren driver executed a brave move through Eau Rouge-Raidillon, completing the overtake on the Kemmel Straight before entering Les Combes.

George Russell took advantage of the same sector to pass Alex Albon one lap later, establishing the order that would remain at the front for the rest of the race.

Ferrari surprises with low-downforce setup

Charles Leclerc implemented an unconventional aerodynamic setup that allowed him to keep Max Verstappen at bay throughout the race. The Ferrari driver finished third, well behind the winner, but managed to contain the Red Bull that finished fourth by a narrow margin.

Ferrari's gamble worked perfectly on the straights of Spa, where Leclerc could defend against Verstappen's constant attacks. The Red Bull driver never got close enough to attempt a real overtake.

Photo By Mclaren

McLaren splits strategies: mediums for Piastri, hards for Norris

The difference between teammates was established during the pit window. Piastri pitted on lap 12 to fit medium compound tires, while Norris completed an extra lap before switching to hard tires. A slower pit stop for Norris left him considerably behind his teammate.

McLaren chose to give Norris a different option with the more durable C1 compound, betting that he could catch Piastri at the end. The plan worked partially: Norris gradually reduced the gap in the final laps, but never really pressured the leader.

Bortoleto scores important points with Sauber

Gabriel Bortoleto achieved a solid ninth place for Kick Sauber, beating his teammate Nico Hulkenberg during the race. The Brazilian driver benefited from an early stop that put him in position to attack at the right moment, scoring two valuable points for the Swiss team.

Hulkenberg opted for a second stop that didn't pay off, finishing twelfth behind Oliver Bearman (Haas). Pierre Gasly closed out the points in tenth place after leading a DRS train for much of the second half.

Photo By Mclaren Cars

Albon withstands Hamilton's pressure

Alex Albon held onto sixth place for Williams despite constant pressure from Hamilton in the second half of the race. The Thai-British driver expertly defended his position, keeping the Ferrari out of overtaking range during crucial laps.

The battle between them remained intense until the checkered flag, with Hamilton constantly looking for an opportunity that never came. Albon delivered a solid performance that earned Williams eight important points.

Full results table

FORMULA 1 2025 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX - FINAL RESULT
July 25-27, 2025 - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps