Piastri Laps Up 'Lively' Victory

Australian pulls off bold move at start of race to seize lead from Norris, set up win

- 

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS — Championship front runner Oscar Piastri grabbed an early lead and extended his title advantage on July 27 when he drove to a perfectly controlled triumph, ahead of McLaren teammate and title rival Lando Norris at a rain-delayed Belgian Grand Prix.

The 24-year-old Australian managed his tires expertly to remain out of reach in the closing laps as the Briton, 25, who had started on pole, closed in on a harder-wearing compound. Piastri finished 3.415 seconds clear as McLaren reeled off their sixth one-two in a dominant season.

It was Piastri's first win at the classic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, his sixth this season and the eighth of his career, extending his lead in the drivers' championship to 16 points after 13 of this season's 24 races. For McLaren, it was a 10th win of 2025.

Charles Leclerc came in a solid third for Ferrari ahead of four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull, under the race leadership of new team boss Laurent Mekies for the first time, and Mercedes' George Russell.