Spa, Belgium – After more than an hour under the wet blanket of heavy rain, Oscar Piastri finally got the green light and seized his moment. On lap four, when the safety car pit lane lights went out, the McLaren rookie darted past teammate Lando Norris to claim victory in the rain-delayed Belgian Grand Prix.
"I knew a slight lift-off difference could make or break it," Piastri said, recalling how he braved the uphill climb through Eau Rouge with a "lively" car. It paid off: he surged ahead and never looked back, despite worn tires in the closing stages.
Norris, who hinted at a small battery issue over team radio, fought back in the final laps but couldn't close the 2.3-second gap. McLaren chief executive Zak Brown later confirmed they'll dive into the battery glitch to avoid a repeat.
Charles Leclerc rounded out the podium for Ferrari, fending off a charging Max Verstappen in Red Bull's first race since a major team shake-up. Verstappen settled for fourth, while George Russell and Alex Albon battled for top-five finishes.
With his sixth win of the season, Piastri extended his championship lead from 9 to 16 points over Norris, denying his teammate a hat-trick of wins. He also became the first McLaren driver to win at Spa since Jenson Button in 2012—proof that patience and precision pay off in the wet.
From delayed start to championship impact, Spa reminded fans why Formula 1 is a blend of strategy, skill and a little bit of luck. For young fans tracking every twist and turn, Piastri's climb from second on the grid to the top step was the performance of the weekend.
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Piastri beats Norris to win rain-delayed Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix
cgtn.com
