Anarchy in the Ardennes: The 2025 Belgian Grand Prix

The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, with its sweeping curves, dramatic elevation changes, and notoriously unpredictable weather, always promises a spectacle. The 2025 Belgian Grand Prix, on paper, served up a weekend of strategic gambles and no margin for error. But, taking a deeper look, I realise that the race itself was actually quite dull. Let's break down the key stories from each session.

Oscar Piastri, the championship leader, stamped his authority on the weekend early, snatching Sprint Pole Position with a commanding lap of 1m 40.510s. This was not just a narrow victory; he was almost half a second clear of his nearest rival, Max Verstappen, and over six-tenths clear of his own McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, who managed third.

Piastri's performance was a clear statement of intent. After the frustration of his race-losing penalty to Norris at the British Grand Prix, he arrived in Spa with a point to prove. Speaking after the session, Piastri admitted to a "little scare in SQ2" when a lap deletion for track limits put him on the cusp of elimination, but his SQ3 performance was "imperious", a testament to his confidence and the car's balance.

Norris, meanwhile, had to settle for third. While still a strong showing for McLaren, his deficit to Piastri was notable. It immediately sparked discussions about whether Piastri had truly found another gear, or if Norris was struggling to extract the ultimate one-lap pace from his car. The intra-team battle, a defining narrative of this season, is heating up.

The poor form for the Brits continued with Lewis Hamilton suffering a shock early exit in SQ1, qualifying a dismal 18th. A spin at the Bus Stop chicane on his final flying lap consigned him to the back of the grid, a result he later admitted was "massively frustrating". This wasn't just a poor lap; it spoke volumes about Ferrari's struggles to find performance this year, even with a new floor on Lewis' car.

Even more concerning was the performance of Kimi Antonelli. The highly-touted rookie, who had secured a brilliant maiden Sprint Pole in Miami earlier this year, endured another nightmare session. A spin into the gravel at Stavelot on his first flying lap effectively ruined his SQ1, leaving him dead last in 20th position. This extended a challenging run of races for Antonelli. Russell fared only marginally better, qualifying a disappointing 13th. The collective struggles of both Mercedes cars, particularly after their strong showing in certain earlier races, left team principal Toto Wolff scratching his head and acknowledging that the team had "taken a big step backwards this weekend".

While the top teams presented contrasting fortunes, the midfield provided some pleasant surprises. Haas, in particular, enjoyed a season-best performance in Sprint Qualifying. Esteban Ocon impressively secured fifth, with his teammate Oliver Bearman not far behind in seventh. This strong showing for the American outfit highlighted their progress in 2025 and their ability to maximise their package in dry conditions.

Williams also had a strong outing, with Carlos Sainz putting his car into a commendable sixth place. This was a particularly impressive result given the competitive nature of the midfield. However, the team did suffer a blow with Alex Albon surprisingly missing out on SQ2. These midfield results set the stage for a potentially thrilling Sprint Race, with several teams vying for those crucial points.

Despite Oscar Piastri's dominant Sprint Qualifying performance, it was Max Verstappen who stole the show in the Sprint Race, securing his first Sprint victory of the 2025 season. Starting from second, Verstappen made a strong start, but it was his audacious move on Piastri down the iconic Kemmel Straight that set the tone. Utilising his Red Bull's superior straight-line speed and a perfectly judged slipstream, Verstappen surged past Piastri well before the braking zone into Les Combes to snatch the lead. This was a classic Verstappen move, showcasing his unmatched aggression and ability to seize opportunities.

Once in the lead, Verstappen displayed a masterclass in managing his lower-downforce setup, which was less suited to the twisty middle sector but devastating on the straights. Despite constant pressure from both McLarens throughout the race, he expertly defended his position, holding on for a victory by a mere 0.753 seconds over Piastri. His post-race comments, "It worked out really well. The start was the only opportunity we had against them and we got it into Turn 5," encapsulated his strategic execution. This victory was also symbolic for Red Bull, being their first race since Christian Horner's departure, and a perfect start for new Team Principal Laurent Mekies.

While Piastri lost the lead to Verstappen early, he still put in a valiant effort to finish second, extending his championship lead over Lando Norris by one point. Piastri's launch from pole was strong, but he simply couldn't defend against Verstappen's superior straight-line speed. He then spent the remainder of the Sprint trying to chase down the Red Bull, at times getting tantalisingly close, particularly when Verstappen made a rare error at the Bus Stop chicane on Lap 11.

Lando Norris, starting third, also lost a position on the opening lap to Charles Leclerc, but quickly recovered to reclaim P3. The intra-team battle at McLaren was palpable, with Norris staying within six-tenths of Piastri for much of the race. While the conditions made overtaking difficult, Norris's close proximity suggested that had the race been longer, or the tyres degraded more, he might have had an opportunity. The fact that both McLarens finished on the Sprint podium, reinforcing their Constructors' Championship lead, was a strong team result despite missing out on the win.

Behind the leading trio, the Sprint Race saw a tight midfield battle for the remaining points. Charles Leclerc secured a solid fourth for Ferrari, despite briefly running ahead of Norris. Haas continued their impressive weekend, with Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman converting their strong qualifying into points-paying positions, finishing fifth and seventh respectively. Bearman's seventh place marked his first points since Bahrain and a positive step in his rookie season.

Carlos Sainz put in one of his best performances for Williams, claiming sixth, demonstrating strong race craft. Isack Hadjar, for Racing Bulls, secured the final point in eighth, a significant achievement for the young driver. However, the Sprint wasn't without its casualties. Pierre Gasly, who was running in a points position, suffered a water leak which forced his retirement, promoting those behind him. He later returned to the circuit 2 laps down to conduct some pre-race testing. Lewis Hamilton endured a difficult Sprint, finishing 15th, unable to make significant progress from his low starting position. Kimi Antonelli also struggled, ending up 17th.

Lando Norris roared back from his Sprint Qualifying disappointment to snatch pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix. His lap of 1m 40.562s was a brilliant effort, narrowly beating his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri by a mere 0.085 seconds. This was a statement of intent from Norris, having been pipped by Piastri in Sprint Qualifying. But with Norris' track record from pole, and the Kemmel straight on the cards, did he really want pole?

The McLaren one-two on the grid underscored their phenomenal form. Both drivers were consistently at the sharp end throughout the session, demonstrating the MCL39's versatility across different conditions. Piastri, despite missing out on pole, was still very much in the mix, setting up an exciting prospect of an intra-team battle at the front for Sunday's race. Team principal Andrea Stella praised both drivers for their exceptional performance, highlighting the team's strong package at Spa.

Ferrari endured a mixed qualifying session, with Charles Leclerc putting his SF-25 into an impressive third position, just ahead of Max Verstappen. Leclerc's consistent pace throughout qualifying suggested that Ferrari had found some significant performance over the weekend, particularly in the dry. This was a crucial step for the Scuderia, especially in their battle for second in the Constructors' Championship.

However, Lewis Hamilton's woes continued. After his spin in Sprint Qualifying, the seven-time champion suffered another shock Q1 exit, qualifying a dismal 16th for the main Grand Prix. A lap deletion for track limits, coupled with a lack of outright pace, condemned him to another difficult starting position. This was a stark reminder of his challenging season at Ferrari, with many speculating about his adaptation to the car and the ongoing setup difficulties. The contrast between Leclerc's strong showing and Hamilton's struggles was a major talking point in the paddock.

Max Verstappen, the Sprint winner, could only manage fourth on the grid. While still a strong result, it marked a rare occasion where Red Bull wasn't on pole or the front row in dry conditions. Verstappen himself admitted that he "failed to take the fight to either Norris or Piastri," indicating that the RB21 perhaps lacked the ultimate one-lap pace to challenge McLaren at Spa in the dry. This suggested that McLaren had indeed found a sweet spot for the high-speed, low-downforce demands of the circuit. Red Bull would need to rely on their race pace and strategic prowess to challenge for victory on Sunday.

The midfield continued to deliver surprises. Alexander Albon put in a phenomenal performance for Williams, qualifying an impressive fifth, showcasing his exceptional talent and the capabilities of the FW47. George Russell, despite Mercedes' overall struggles, managed to salvage a sixth place, ahead of Yuki Tsunoda in the Red Bull. The Racing Bulls pair of Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson both made it into Q3, securing eighth and ninth respectively, further cementing Racing Bulls' progress and Hadjar's promising debut season. Gabriel Bortoleto rounded out the top 10 for Sauber.

Conversely, Aston Martin had a particularly tough qualifying session, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll bringing up the rear in 19th and 20th respectively, highlighting their ongoing struggles to find performance. Kimi Antonelli's challenging weekend continued, qualifying 18th for Mercedes.

Sunday at Spa delivered the quintessential Ardennes weather: heavy rain. The start of the Grand Prix was delayed by almost 80 minutes due to torrential downpours prior to the race and concerns about visibility. I don't know about you, but I was having 2021 flashbacks. The most infuriating part of it was them constantly showing clear skies during the pause.

Rant Time:

Ok here's the rant. I completely understand the concern over driver safety and visibility, especially given Spa's recent history in the junior categories. But let's be honest. We are constantly told these are the 20 best drivers in the world. They were all on intermediates. Put them on wets and let them race, it's the fastest way to clear the water. Pirelli coming out and saying the wet tyre is not a good race tyre is just them admitting they are bad at their job, it's not an excuse. The FIA are so scared of hurting anybody that they completely erased any hope we had for an interesting race. It also could be classed as race manipulation, since those that gambled on, or even knew about, the weather and set their car up for it, suffered. You could tell it was starting to grate on even Martin Brundle as he constantly argued we should be getting this race going. Rant over.

With all cars on intermediate tyres and the track still drenched, polesitter Lando Norris led the field away behind the Safety Car. However, the crucial moment of the race came almost immediately after the Safety Car pulled in on Lap 4 for the rolling start. Oscar Piastri, starting second, got a phenomenal run through the treacherous Eau Rouge, nailing the throttle and muscling past his teammate Norris along the Kemmel Straight well before Les Combes. This audacious and perfectly executed move in slippery conditions put Piastri in the lead, a position he would not relinquish.

Piastri later admitted, "I knew Lap 1 would probably be my best chance of winning the race. I got a good exit out of Turn 1, lifted as little as I dared, and yeah. We had it mostly under control from there." His bravery and precision in the wet were on full display, providing a defining moment for his championship campaign.

As the track began to dry rapidly, the pit lane sprang to life around Lap 10. The crucial strategic decision was which dry compound to switch to: the faster Mediums or the more durable Hards. McLaren opted for a split strategy, bringing Piastri in on Lap 12 for Medium tyres, while Norris pitted a lap later for the Hard compound.

Piastri's early stop for Mediums proved to be the winning call. Despite concerns about managing the softer compound to the end of the 44-lap race, the Australian displayed remarkable tyre management. Norris, on the Hards, initially lost ground after his later stop and a slight delay with his front-left tyre fitment, finding himself over nine seconds adrift of Piastri. While Norris mounted a spirited charge in the closing stages, slashing the gap to just over three seconds by the penultimate lap due to the Hards' superior degradation, Piastri managed to keep a cool head and maintain his lead. A small mistake from Norris at La Source on the penultimate lap sealed Piastri's victory, giving McLaren their third consecutive 1-2 finish and Piastri his sixth win of the season, extending his championship lead to 16 points over Norris.

Max Verstappen, starting fourth, had a relatively quiet race by his standards. While he couldn't challenge the dominant McLarens, he engaged in a prolonged battle with Charles Leclerc for third. Leclerc, after a strong qualifying, held off the Red Bull driver throughout the race, securing a valuable podium finish for Ferrari, his fifth of the season. This was a strong performance for Ferrari, particularly given the variable conditions. Verstappen eventually finished fourth, 1.5 seconds behind Leclerc, a testament to Ferrari's improved race pace.

George Russell had a largely uneventful but solid race, bringing his Mercedes home in fifth position after passing Alex Albon early on. Lewis Hamilton, after his calamitous qualifying, put in a determined recovery drive, climbing 11 places from 18th to finish seventh and secure crucial points for Ferrari. This demonstrated his race craft and ability to fight through the field, even with a difficult car.

The midfield provided consistent action. Alex Albon held off relentless pressure from Hamilton for over half the race to secure an impressive sixth place for Williams. Liam Lawson, for Racing Bulls, continued to impress, finishing eighth and adding to his points tally. Gabriel Bortoleto also secured points for Sauber in ninth, marking his second points finish of the season. Pierre Gasly rounded out the points in tenth for Alpine. This was largely helped by Kick Sauber pitting Hulkenberg at the end of the race, dropping him out of the points.

The race itself, despite the wet start, saw no further cautions after the initial delay and Safety Car period. All drivers finished the race, a remarkable feat given the challenging conditions. However, the early wet-dry transition, combined with the complexities of managing tyre degradation and the demands of Spa, meant that mistakes were always lurking. The discussions post-race revolved around the FIA's decision to delay the start, with some drivers, like Max Verstappen, expressing frustration about the perceived over-caution, arguing that the track could have been deemed raceable earlier.

What was the most impressive aspect of Oscar Piastri's win at Spa? Join the debate in the comments below! Stay on top of all the F1 action – subscribe to our blog for comprehensive race reports and analysis!