The 2025 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps delivered high drama, tactical brilliance, and a defining moment in the Formula 1 title fight. Amid torrential rain and slippery conditions, Oscar Piastri produced a career-defining drive to claim victory for McLaren, edging out teammate Lando Norris and title rival Charles Leclerc in an unforgettable race on Sunday, July 27, 2025.
With a delayed start, chaotic pit strategies, and a storming drive from the back by Lewis Hamilton, Spa lived up to its reputation as one of the most iconic and unpredictable circuits in the F1 calendar. Here’s your complete breakdown of what happened at the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix, what it means for the title race, and why this could be the turning point of the season.
The Race Start: Rain Delay and Safety Car Drama
Rain has always been a key character at Spa-Francorchamps, and 2025 was no different. Torrential downpours forced an 80-minute delay, with the opening laps run behind the Safety Car. Drivers reported aquaplaning and poor visibility, leading race control to cautiously manage the green flag start.
Once racing commenced on lap 5, it became clear that McLaren had the upper hand in the wet. Norris, who started on pole position, got away cleanly, but Piastri immediately showed greater grip and momentum—especially through Eau Rouge and Raidillon.
Piastri’s Bold Move: The Decisive Moment
The turning point of the race came almost immediately after the green flag. On lap 5, Oscar Piastri launched a daring overtake on Norris, using the slipstream and traction advantage exiting Turn 1 to dive past his teammate at the top of the Kemmel Straight. It was a championship-worthy move—one that left even McLaren engineers speechless.
Norris, despite initially holding P1, began struggling with tyre degradation and later fell behind due to a costly pit stop delay and an extra tyre change. Piastri, meanwhile, made a one-stop strategy work to perfection, maintaining tyre life and pace throughout the drying track conditions.
Top 10 Finishers – Belgian GP 2025 Results
| Position | Driver | Team | Time/Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | – |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +3.415s |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +20.185s |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +21.731s |
| 5 | George Russell | Mercedes | +34.921s |
| 6 | Alex Albon | Williams | +41.234s |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | +43.010s |
| 8 | Liam Lawson | AlphaTauri | +48.872s |
| 9 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber | +51.401s |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +54.609s |
Lewis Hamilton: From P18 to Driver of the Day
Lewis Hamilton, starting from the pit lane after a power unit change penalty, executed one of the most impressive drives of the weekend. He climbed from 18th to 7th, showcasing superior tyre management and racecraft.
Hamilton’s early switch to slicks as the track dried proved critical. His undercut allowed him to leapfrog several midfield drivers, and his late-race pace drew praise from fans and pundits alike.
His performance earned him the “Driver of the Day” award, reinforcing his status as one of the sport’s greats even during a rebuilding season for Mercedes.
Verstappen’s Missed Opportunity and Contract Clause Drama
Max Verstappen, who started in P6, finished fourth after struggling to match the McLarens’ pace in both wet and dry conditions. While he fought valiantly to pressure Leclerc for a podium finish, Verstappen couldn’t pull off the move.
Importantly, his P4 finish was enough to nullify a performance clause in his Red Bull contract that would have allowed him to leave the team mid-season. Speculation linking him to Mercedes is now largely put to rest, at least for now.
The race also marked Red Bull’s first full weekend under new team boss Laurent Mekies, following the departure of long-time principal Christian Horner.
Strategy Wars and Weather Tactics
The 2025 Belgian GP was not just about on-track pace—it was a strategic chess match. Teams faced critical decisions regarding intermediates vs. slicks, and the timing of stops was everything.
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Piastri stayed out longer, opting for a medium-hard one-stopper, which gave him track position and tyre advantage late on.
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Norris went for a two-stop strategy, switching to hards earlier but losing time due to traffic and a slow pit release.
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Ferrari managed to keep Leclerc in contention, but Sainz’s car suffered from brake overheating, forcing a retirement.
The drying conditions punished teams that were too aggressive early, and rewarded those who remained calm and adaptive.
McLaren’s One-Two: A Title Statement
This was McLaren’s sixth one-two finish of 2025, underlining their dominance in this year’s constructors’ battle. With Piastri and Norris now firmly ahead of Verstappen and Leclerc in the Drivers’ Championship, McLaren look well-positioned to secure both titles.
Current F1 2025 Drivers’ Standings (Top 5)
| Rank | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | 266 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | 250 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | 204 |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | 192 |
| 5 | Lewis Hamilton | 162 |
Constructors’ Championship 2025 (Top 5)
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | McLaren | 516 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 402 |
| 3 | Red Bull | 394 |
| 4 | Mercedes | 374 |
| 5 | Williams | 223 |
Notable Performances at Spa 2025
⭐ Oscar Piastri – McLaren
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Pushed hard when it mattered, overtook Norris cleanly, and controlled the race.
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Now the championship leader heading into Hungary.
⭐ Lando Norris – McLaren
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Secured pole position, showing continued single-lap excellence.
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Unlucky with pit stop timing but still bagged valuable points.
⭐ Alex Albon – Williams
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Held off Hamilton for several laps and secured another impressive top-six finish.
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Continues to overperform in the FW47.
⭐ Gabriel Bortoleto – Sauber
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Earned his first career points in F1.
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Showed resilience in difficult wet conditions.
Looking Ahead: Hungarian Grand Prix Next
The 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix on August 3, 2025, could be pivotal in the championship fight. McLaren head to Budapest as favourites, but Ferrari’s chassis tends to excel in high-downforce circuits, and Red Bull are desperate to recover lost ground.
With only eight races remaining, every result matters. Can Verstappen mount a comeback? Will Piastri hold his nerve as the new title favourite?
Final Thoughts: A Modern Classic at Spa
The 2025 Belgian Grand Prix will be remembered as one of the standout races of the hybrid era. It had everything: weather chaos, on-track drama, strategic gambles, and a reshuffling of championship momentum.
Oscar Piastri’s clinical win signals that the balance of power in F1 may be shifting. McLaren, a sleeping giant for over a decade, is now firmly awake—and roaring.