Oscar Piastri showcased nerves of steel at Sunday's rain-disrupted Belgian Grand Prix, overtaking McLaren teammate Lando Norris in a daring first-lap maneuver to claim his sixth Formula 1 victory this season. The Australian's strategic gamble through Spa-Francorchamps' treacherous Eau Rouge corner proved decisive as heavy rainfall delayed the race start by over an hour.
"Starting second at Spa turned out better than expected," Piastri remarked after becoming McLaren's first Belgian GP winner since Jenson Button in 2012. The 23-year-old fended off late pressure from Norris, whose reported battery issues hampered his challenge, widening their championship gap to 16 points.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc secured third place ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, marking the four-time champion's first race since team principal Christian Horner's controversial dismissal. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton staged an impressive charge from 18th to seventh for Mercedes, while Williams' Alex Albon held off the Briton for sixth.
The result intensifies McLaren's constructor championship ambitions and sets up an intriguing second half of the season, with Piastri emerging as Formula 1's newest consistent threat.
