The 2025 Belgian Grand Prix delivered a rare mix of strategy, composure, and subtle brilliance rather than raw chaos. It may not have been the all-time thriller Spa can sometimes provide, but it marked a potential turning point in the championship, and in the careers of several top drivers.
Piastri’s Statement Win
Oscar Piastri secured his eighth career win, pulling even with Daniel Ricciardo on the all-time Aussie leaderboard. But where Ricciardo took 257 starts to get there, Piastri has done it in just 59. More than just a number, this win felt like a breakthrough moment.
Piastri didn’t win through luck, safety cars, or team orders. He did it with a flawless drive from lights to flag, defending early against Norris and then controlling the pace on a track that dried rapidly after a damp start. The visible emotion in his celebration and post-race interview revealed what this win meant. His lap 1 overtake down Raidillon, on a wet track, on cold tires, with diabolical visibility, was the kind of move that separates great drivers from future champions.
This wasn’t just about speed. Piastri’s tire management and composure on the slicks, with Norris hunting him down on hards, showcased his growth. He never cracked under pressure. With every race, he’s ironing out the rough edges. His early struggles with tire life now seem like a thing of the past.
Even more telling was the context: this win gave Piastri the most wins by an Australian in a single season, and it’s only the halfway mark. It also marked McLaren’s sixth 1-2 finish of the year, their best run since 1988’s Senna-Prost era.
Norris’ Gamble and the Strategy Split
Lando Norris took P2, but the race easily could have gone his way. The choice to fit hard tires was gutsy, and likely the right call given the track’s cool temperatures. The strategy could have worked if not for a handful of key setbacks: a slow pit stop, a lap-too-late pit call that cost time on the inters, and a few minor errors that added up to three seconds lost on track.
Still, Norris was gaining. Had he made DRS range, it might have played out like Imola, a late, dramatic overtake. But Piastri’s consistent pace nullified any real pressure. McLaren’s garage split, where each side makes its own strategy calls, added intrigue. Oscar’s team bet on mediums going the distance, and they were proven right.
The fan reaction was polarized. Before the race ended, some were already shouting about McLaren sabotaging Oscar. Afterward, others blamed Lando’s strategists. But the reality is that Norris simply didn’t execute as cleanly. Pitting one lap earlier or skipping the pit stop delay might’ve changed everything.
And for those wondering why McLaren didn’t go for a double stack, they considered it, but pitting both drivers as they hit the back straight would’ve been a tight gamble. Ultimately, Norris was left to fend for himself and never got close enough to push Oscar into mistakes.
The tire choice wasn’t the problem. His inability to defend at the start, particularly losing out on the Kemmel Straight, set the tone. Piastri’s flawless run meant that even with the hard compound advantage, Norris couldn’t do enough.
Leclerc’s Silent Brilliance
Charles Leclerc’s drive might not have had highlight-reel moments, but it was every bit as brilliant. Holding off Verstappen in both wet and dry conditions, in a Ferrari that clearly lacked the raw pace of the McLaren and Red Bull, was a feat of mental and technical mastery.
His defensive work through sector 2 and ability to maximize traction out of Eau Rouge made overtaking nearly impossible, especially with a weak DRS effect (just +12kph in the race). It’s a drive that deserved more spotlight. In an era that loves overtakes and crashes, we sometimes forget that control and consistency can be just as impressive.
Some fans were reminded of Alonso vs Schumacher at Imola in 2005, a battle remembered for its defensive perfection. Leclerc’s effort here had echoes of that brilliance. He made no mistakes under pressure, and that alone is worth celebrating.
Verstappen was quicker over one lap in qualifying and during parts of the sprint, so this wasn’t a case of him being off form. It was simply that Leclerc drove a near-perfect race with what he had. And unlike Spa of old, catching was one thing, passing was another.
Hamilton’s Resurgence
Lewis Hamilton’s weekend was a mixed bag. Qualifying was scrappy, with multiple track limit violations and errors, including a costly Raidillon cut, but his race pace was strong. He quietly made up places and finished P6, keeping himself within striking range for Hungary.
Spa hasn’t been kind to him lately, but Hungary is another story. He has eight wins and nine poles there, the most successful track of his career. If Ferrari shows similar pace, Lewis will be in podium contention. Off track, he continued mentoring the younger Ferrari drivers, including a check-in with Kimi post-race.
Albon and Lawson Shine in the Midfield
Alex Albon finished P6, ahead of Hamilton, Russell, and Alonso, in what might be one of the best midfield performances of the season. Williams’ gamble on setup and tire compound paid off as Albon executed a flawless long stint.
Meanwhile, Liam Lawson brought home points in P8 after following team comms precisely. It was a mature drive under varying conditions. Unfortunately, Isack Hadjar’s race ended in P20 due to an issue the team is still investigating, so we didn’t get to see them team up on track.
Lawson continues to prove he deserves the seat. Hadjar showed promise in qualifying, but technical issues and Spa’s narrow overtaking window sealed his fate.
Verstappen’s Podium Drought
Max Verstappen’s fourth-place finish marked his third straight race off the podium, the longest such streak in over five years. Not since Mexico 2019 has Max gone this long without silverware.
While this isn’t a crisis for Red Bull, it is unfamiliar territory. The title fight feels wide open now. The paddock is swirling with what-if speculation: would Max ever consider leaving Red Bull? Would Mercedes or Ferrari really buy out Hamilton or Russell for him?
Fans joked about Toto Wolff’s “desperation” and whether any team, even Ferrari, would dump a big contract to secure Max. But barring a seismic shift, Max isn’t going anywhere. Still, it shows how quickly dominance can fade in modern F1.
Spa’s Growing Pains
Despite the strategy battles and midfield intrigue, many fans came away underwhelmed. Spa, once a byword for chaos and unpredictability, has become more subdued in the ground effect era.
Overtaking was rare, even with big tire differentials. Even drivers with DRS and fresher tires couldn’t make it stick. The DRS effect was too mild. Rain threatened but didn’t deliver. And in a rare stat, all 20 cars finished the race, only the 17th time that’s happened in F1 history.
Some newer fans voiced frustration. Since 2020, Spa has rarely delivered memorable races. There’s a growing sentiment that if races are going to be dry, red-flagged at the hint of rain, and neutered by technical regulations, maybe the magic is gone, at least for now.
Still, that might make Piastri’s win all the more meaningful. On a day when the race didn’t hand anything to anyone, he seized it.
A New #1 for Australia?
Piastri now holds the record for most F1 wins in a single season by an Australian, and he’s only halfway through. He’s tied with Ricciardo in career wins (8) and closing in on Webber (9), Alan Jones (12), and even Jack Brabham (14).
It’s not just about the numbers. The story behind the scenes matters too. Mark Webber’s role in steering Oscar away from Alpine and into McLaren may go down as the greatest managerial move of the decade. Some even argue that Webber’s influence on Oscar’s career might become his greatest contribution to the sport.
The Alpine saga, with missed contracts, lies, and last-minute maneuvering, almost derailed Piastri before it began. Now, in papaya orange, he’s not just surviving. He’s winning.
From a manager once treated as a number two, to a driver many assumed was one, Australia’s future F1 champion may already be here.
Bonus Stat
In the updated historical record, Spa 2025 became just the 17th F1 race where all cars finished, a rarity in a sport defined by attrition. Expect memes about it to be better organized next time, but the stat remains impressive. Spa may not be wild anymore, but it is reliable.