Lando Norris openly admitted that Oscar Piastri showed greater commitment during the intense, rain-soaked Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, conceding that his team-mate deserved the win. The race, delayed by over an hour due to heavy rain and poor visibility, provided dramatic moments before Piastri seized a crucial opportunity to overtake Norris and secure victory.
After a delayed start and several laps behind the safety car, Norris struggled with a sloppy exit at the opening La Source corner. This mistake allowed Piastri to capitalize, using the slipstream through the fast and treacherous Eau Rouge and Raidillon section. At approximately 170mph, Piastri bravely held his nerve, maneuvering past Norris on the Kemmel Straight to claim the lead – a move both bold and masterful.
Norris, whose hopes for a world championship title suffered a setback with his team-mate extending the lead in the standings from nine to sixteen points, acknowledged the performance gap. “Oscar just did a good job, and there is nothing more to say,” Norris commented. “He committed more through Eau Rouge, got the slipstream, and took the opportunity. I would have loved to be on top, but Oscar deserved it today.”
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The race was nearly abandoned due to the severe weather conditions, with visibility so poor that officials initially suspended the event after the formation lap. Though some, like Max Verstappen, criticized the delay as overly cautious, race director Rui Marques’ decision reflected Spa’s tragic safety history, including 49 fatalities over the last century and the recent loss of young driver Dilano Van ’t Hoff.
Once conditions improved and the race began behind the safety car, the competitors braved wet track conditions and intermittent sunshine. Piastri’s daring overtake on lap one proved decisive, as he finished the lap 1.5 seconds ahead of Norris, who was left chasing desperately after his teammate’s flawless execution.
Piastri, who notched his sixth win of the season—two more than Norris—reflected on his performance: “I knew lap one would be my best chance to win. I made a good exit from the corner and lifted as little as possible through Eau Rouge. It was lively up the hill, but I managed to keep it on track.”
The Belgian Grand Prix added another thrilling chapter to the McLaren rivalry while shaping the championship battle ahead of the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix.