Piastri Wins Wet-Dry Belgian GP! Verstappen & Hamilton Fume!
Oscar Piastri has emerged victorious in a thrilling, weather-affected Belgian Grand Prix, held at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The McLaren driver extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship after a tense battle with teammate Lando Norris. The race, initially delayed by heavy rain, provided plenty of drama and strategic decisions.
Piastri's Dominance and McLaren's 1-2
The race began after a significant delay due to torrential rain. Piastri, starting from pole, made a decisive move on Norris early on, seizing the lead through Eau Rouge and maintaining a slender advantage. The track gradually dried, prompting teams to switch to intermediate and then slick tyres. Piastri managed his tyres effectively, holding off a late charge from Norris to secure the win.
The final results saw Piastri ahead of Norris, securing a brilliant 1-2 finish for McLaren. Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari, followed closely by Max Verstappen.
Verstappen and Hamilton Criticize Rain Delay
Multiple world champions Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton voiced their displeasure with the race organisers' decision to delay the start. Both drivers felt the delay was excessive, arguing that the track was suitable for racing much earlier. Verstappen suggested that a few laps behind the safety car would have been sufficient to clear the standing water.
Verstappen stated: "It wasn't even raining... If you do two or three laps behind the Safety Car, then it would have been a lot more clear – and the rest of the track was ready to go anyway."
Hamilton echoed Verstappen's sentiments, indicating that the race could have started sooner. He believes organisers are overreacting to previous incidents. Verstappen further criticised what he perceives as an overly cautious approach to racing in the rain, suggesting Formula 1 might as well stop racing in wet conditions if this continues. He stated the initial delay “made no sense”.
- Oscar Piastri wins Belgian Grand Prix
- Lando Norris finishes second
- Max Verstappen criticizes the delay
- Lewis Hamilton agrees with Verstappen