Formula 1’s 2025 Belgian Grand Prix Review
Piastri wins Spa showdown to stretch title lead as McLaren dominate once again
Oscar Piastri proved why he’s at the top of the 2025 Drivers’ Championship with a composed and clinical victory at Spa-Francorchamps, fending off a fast-charging Lando Norris in a tense wet-dry Belgian Grand Prix. After nearly 80 minutes of rain-induced delay, the McLaren duo delivered a 1–2 finish, solidifying their grip on the title fight and putting on a masterclass in mixed conditions.
The win marks Piastri’s fourth Grand Prix victory of the season and extends his lead over Norris to 16 points heading into Hungary next weekend. Charles Leclerc rounded out the podium, holding off Max Verstappen in a defensive drive that kept Ferrari in the mix.
👉 For Tickets and Package Deals to the Hungarian Grand Prix, Please Click Here
🏁 2025 Belgian Grand Prix Race Summary
Oscar Piastri holds his nerve in Spa’s chaos to deliver a defining win
After an 80-minute rain delay soaked the tarmac and tested everyone’s patience, it was Oscar Piastri who came out swinging at Spa. The Australian took the lead on Lap 5 of the rolling start by executing a stunning pass on polesitter and teammate Lando Norris up the Kemmel Straight. From there, Piastri led the entire race, but it was anything but comfortable.
McLaren opted for a split tyre strategy during the change from intermediates to slicks. Piastri dived into the pits early for medium tyres, while Norris stayed out one lap longer and switched to the hards. Unfortunately for Norris, a delay during the pit stop—specifically with the front-left tyre—saw him rejoin nearly nine seconds behind.
From there, Piastri managed the gap beautifully, although his radio revealed doubts about whether his medium tyres would make it to the end. Norris began closing the gap steadily, particularly in the final 10 laps. With DRS and some cleaner air, Norris dropped the delta to just 3.1 seconds with two laps to go, but a costly lock-up at La Source on the penultimate lap ended his charge. Piastri crossed the line 3.4 seconds clear.
Behind them, Charles Leclerc fought off relentless pressure from Max Verstappen to claim P3. The Ferrari driver drove a mistake-free race, defending aggressively at key moments, particularly through La Source and Les Combes. Verstappen, running with added downforce compared to his Sprint-winning setup, lacked the straight-line speed to make a clean pass.
George Russell ran a lonely race in fifth but secured strong points for Mercedes. Albon battled hard to finish P6 for Williams, defending well against a charging Hamilton, who recovered from a pit lane start and made up 11 positions to finish P7.
Further back, Liam Lawson delivered a composed drive for P8. Gabriel Bortoleto scored again with P9, while Pierre Gasly fended off a DRS train for the final point in P10. Notably, all 20 drivers finished, and not a single Safety Car or VSC was called once racing got underway—a rare stat for Spa.
2025 Belgian Grand Prix – Final Classification
| Pos | Driver | Team | Laps | Time/Retired | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 44 | 1:25:22.601 | 25 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 44 | +3.415s | 18 |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 44 | +20.185s | 15 |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 44 | +21.731s | 12 |
| 5 | George Russell | Mercedes | 44 | +34.863s | 10 |
| 6 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 44 | +39.926s | 8 |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 44 | +40.679s | 6 |
| 8 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 44 | +52.033s | 4 |
| 9 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 44 | +56.434s | 2 |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 44 | +72.714s | 1 |
| 11 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 44 | +73.145s | 0 |
| 12 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 44 | +73.628s | 0 |
| 13 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 44 | +75.395s | 0 |
| 14 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 44 | +79.831s | 0 |
| 15 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 44 | +86.063s | 0 |
| 16 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 44 | +86.721s | 0 |
| 17 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 44 | +87.924s | 0 |
| 18 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 44 | +92.024s | 0 |
| 19 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine Renault | 44 | +95.250s | 0 |
| 20 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 43 | +1 lap | 0 |
2025 Belgian Grand Prix – Sprint Qualifying Review
Piastri stuns Spa for Sprint pole as Verstappen and Norris trail behind
Oscar Piastri delivered a masterclass in Spa’s high-speed theatre, taking Sprint pole with a dominant lap in SQ3 that left Max Verstappen and teammate Lando Norris chasing shadows. The McLaren driver fired in a scintillating 1:40.510, nearly half a second clear of the reigning World Champion and over six tenths ahead of Norris in a session where precision and timing were everything.
After barely scraping through SQ2 due to a track limits deletion, Piastri responded with one of his best laps of the season. “Maybe this track being my favourite gave me a couple of extra tenths,” he joked after clinching his first Sprint pole of 2025.
🔵 SQ1 – Hamilton spins out, Antonelli struggles
The first segment saw chaos from the outset. Kimi Antonelli spun through the gravel at Stavelot on his first flying lap, flat-spotting his tyres and limping through the session in last place. Lewis Hamilton suffered a rare unforced error, spinning at the final chicane during his final flying lap, ending a dismal SQ1 in 18th.
While Oscar Piastri topped the session with a 1:41.769, several big names were caught out. Alex Albon missed the cut by just 0.041s, joined by Nico Hulkenberg, Hamilton, Franco Colapinto, and Antonelli.
Knocked out: Albon, Hulkenberg, Hamilton, Colapinto, Antonelli
🔵 SQ2 – Norris fastest as Piastri survives lap deletion scare
Norris went quickest in SQ2 with a 1:41.412, but it was his teammate who nearly exited early. Piastri’s initial lap was deleted for exceeding track limits at Eau Rouge, putting immense pressure on his final run. He clawed back into the top 10 by just 0.041s, edging out Liam Lawson to stay alive.
Russell also failed to progress, as did both Aston Martins of Alonso and Stroll, plus Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda.
Knocked out: Lawson, Tsunoda, Russell, Alonso, Stroll
🔵 SQ3 – Piastri blitzes rivals in one-lap shootout
With all drivers allowed just one set of soft tyres, SQ3 became a high-stakes single-lap dash. Norris opened the timesheets with a 1:41.128, followed by Verstappen’s 1:40.987, but Piastri annihilated both with a near-flawless 1:40.510.
Behind the McLaren-Red Bull duo, Charles Leclerc was best of the rest in fourth, while Esteban Ocon delivered a surprise P5 for Haas. Williams’ Carlos Sainz put in a solid lap for P6, followed by Bearman, Gasly, Hadjar, and Bortoleto.
🟢 Sprint Qualifying Top 10 – Belgian GP
| Pos | Driver | Team | SQ1 | SQ2 | SQ3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:41.769 | 1:42.128 | 1:40.510 |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:42.043 | 1:41.583 | 1:40.987 |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:42.068 | 1:41.412 | 1:41.128 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:42.763 | 1:41.786 | 1:41.278 |
| 5 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:42.822 | 1:41.801 | 1:41.565 |
| 6 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 1:42.776 | 1:42.051 | 1:41.761 |
| 7 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 1:43.024 | 1:42.019 | 1:41.857 |
| 8 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:43.171 | 1:41.949 | 1:41.959 |
| 9 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:42.711 | 1:42.088 | 1:41.971 |
| 10 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:42.806 | 1:41.901 | 1:42.176 |
🏁 2025 Belgian Grand Prix – Sprint Race Summary
Verstappen strikes back with Sprint win as McLaren duo push hard at Spa
Max Verstappen held off a ferocious double-pronged attack from the McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to take a hard-fought Sprint Race victory at Spa-Francorchamps. After losing out in Sprint Qualifying, the Red Bull driver made the most of a powerful run down the Kemmel Straight to snatch the lead on Lap 1 and never looked back—despite intense late-race pressure.
Piastri and Norris were never more than a second behind the Dutchman, but Verstappen kept his cool and claimed his first Sprint win of the 2025 season, cutting into Piastri’s championship lead and reminding the field he’s not out of the title fight just yet.
⚡ Lap 1 drama: Verstappen pounces early
Oscar Piastri launched cleanly from Sprint pole, but Verstappen used the long uphill drag through Raidillon and into the Kemmel Straight to perfection, pulling out of the slipstream and diving past into Turn 5. Norris, meanwhile, lost third to Leclerc momentarily before retaking the spot a few laps later.
Behind the top four, Esteban Ocon held strong in P5 for Haas, with Sainz, Bearman, and Hadjar rounding out the points-paying positions in the early phases.
🔄 Tactical pressure: McLaren’s double threat
By Lap 4, the top three were separated by just over a second, with Piastri tucked under Verstappen’s rear wing and Norris closing in rapidly. With tyre degradation minimal over the 100km Sprint, it became a pure strategic and psychological battle.
Piastri made his move on Lap 11 around the outside of Turn 5, but Verstappen defended masterfully. “I can’t brake,” he radioed later, after a scare at the final chicane, but the Dutchman held on.
Further back, Hamilton—starting 18th after a spin in Sprint Qualifying—could only manage P15, while teammate Antonelli made a few small gains but ended up in 17th.
🔚 The final charge
Despite Norris being told that Piastri’s battery was “mid-level,” the McLarens couldn’t find a way past the Red Bull. The trio crossed the line covered by just 1.4 seconds, with Verstappen taking the win, Piastri in second, and Norris third.
Charles Leclerc came home fourth for Ferrari, followed by Esteban Ocon in fifth. Carlos Sainz took sixth for Williams, with Haas’s Ollie Bearman seventh and Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar collecting the final point in eighth.
Pierre Gasly’s car failed to start and rejoined two laps down in what amounted to a test run, while Colapinto—starting from the pit lane—brought up the rear.
🟢 2025 Belgian Grand Prix – Sprint Classification
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 26:37.997 | 8 |
| 2 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | +0.753s | 7 |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | +1.414s | 6 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +10.176s | 5 |
| 5 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | +13.789s | 4 |
| 6 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | +14.247s | 3 |
| 7 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | +15.121s | 2 |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | +15.982s | 1 |
🟠 2025 Belgian Grand Prix – Qualifying Review
Norris edges Piastri to grab Spa pole as McLaren lock out front row
Lando Norris delivered a flawless lap when it mattered most, storming to pole position for the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix and leading a dominant McLaren front row ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri. The Briton set a 1:40.562 in Q3 to claim his 13th career pole and reaffirm McLaren’s authority in the championship battle.
While Piastri held provisional pole during the opening runs, Norris punched back with a rapid final effort. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc joined them in third, narrowly beating out Max Verstappen, who reported grip issues throughout the session.
🔵 Q1 – Norris leads as Hamilton suffers track limits heartbreak
It was a nightmare for Lewis Hamilton, who initially made it into the top 10 but had his lap deleted for track limits. The Ferrari driver dropped to P16 and was eliminated in Q1. Kimi Antonelli and both Aston Martins also failed to progress, while Nico Hulkenberg’s contact with Lance Stroll in the pit lane will be investigated post-session.
Norris topped the session ahead of Piastri, with Leclerc and Verstappen close behind.
Knocked out: Hamilton, Colapinto, Antonelli, Alonso, Stroll
🔵 Q2 – Piastri leads as Haas and Hulkenberg falter
Oscar Piastri lit up Q2 with a 1:40.626, 0.089s clear of Norris. Verstappen held third, but behind them, the Haas pair—so strong in the Sprint—missed the cut. Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman were joined by Gasly, Hulkenberg, and Sainz on the sidelines.
Liam Lawson’s strong effort put him through to Q3 along with Hadjar, Tsunoda, and Bortoleto.
Knocked out: Ocon, Bearman, Gasly, Hulkenberg, Sainz
🔵 Q3 – Norris flies to pole as McLaren dominate Spa
In the final showdown, Norris threw down the gauntlet early with a 1:40.562—good enough for provisional pole and, ultimately, the top spot. Piastri improved late but fell just short, missing out by 0.085s. Leclerc grabbed P3 after a clean lap, pushing Verstappen back to P4 by just 0.003s.
Alex Albon starred again for Williams in fifth, ahead of Russell and Tsunoda. The Racing Bulls locked in solid top-10 starts, with Hadjar and Lawson P8 and P9, while Bortoleto rounded out the final shootout in tenth.
🟢 Top 10 – Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying Results
| Pos | Driver | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:41.010 | 1:40.715 | 1:40.562 |
| 2 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:41.201 | 1:40.626 | 1:40.647 |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:41.635 | 1:41.084 | 1:40.900 |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:41.334 | 1:40.951 | 1:40.903 |
| 5 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:41.772 | 1:41.505 | 1:41.201 |
| 6 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:41.784 | 1:41.254 | 1:41.260 |
| 7 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:41.840 | 1:41.245 | 1:41.284 |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:41.572 | 1:41.281 | 1:41.310 |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:41.748 | 1:41.297 | 1:41.328 |
| 10 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:41.908 | 1:41.336 | 1:42.387 |
🏁 Conclusion
Oscar Piastri’s clinical win at Spa was a statement—he’s not just leading the championship, he’s controlling the tempo of the title fight. With McLaren locking out the front row and finishing 1–2, they now head to Hungary with a 16-point gap between Piastri and Norris, while Verstappen finds himself in damage limitation mode.
The midfield fight remains thrilling with strong showings from Williams, Haas, Kick Sauber, and Alpine. And with Hungary just around the corner, the 2025 season continues to serve up high-stakes drama with no signs of slowing down.
👉 For Tickets and Package Deals to the Hungarian Grand Prix, Please Click Here
📚 Sources
