Context:

Oscar Piastri claimed his sixth victory of the season at the rain-delayed Belgian Grand Prix, overtaking his McLaren teammate Lando Norris on the first racing lap. The race commenced after a 90-minute delay due to heavy rain, with Piastri securing the lead through a committed move at the Les Combes chicane. Despite initial concerns about his tyre durability, Piastri managed his medium tyres effectively to finish the race without a second pit stop, ultimately winning by 3.4 seconds. Norris, who opted for a different tyre strategy, could not close the gap significantly, while Charles Leclerc secured the final podium spot ahead of Max Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton, starting from the pit lane, showcased excellent overtaking skills to finish seventh, adding excitement to an otherwise static race.

Dive Deeper:

• Oscar Piastri overtook Lando Norris on the first racing lap of the Belgian Grand Prix, taking advantage of wet conditions and a slipstream at the Kemmel straight to secure the lead.

• The race faced a significant delay due to heavy rain, resulting in an hour and a half of waiting before the drivers could start, leading to a strategic race that saw Piastri's tyre management play a crucial role.

• A divergent tyre strategy saw Norris switch to hard tyres hoping to finish the race without another stop, but Piastri’s earlier switch to mediums and his ability to maintain tyre performance allowed him to stay ahead.

• Despite being initially skeptical about his tyres lasting, Piastri managed to maintain an eight-second lead for much of the race, showcasing his strategic acumen and composure under pressure.

• In the final laps, Norris attempted to close the gap but was hampered by a slower pit stop, a lock-up, and running wide, which ultimately allowed Piastri to maintain a comfortable lead to the finish.

• Charles Leclerc maintained third place in a race with little overtaking among the frontrunners, successfully fending off a late charge from Max Verstappen.

• Lewis Hamilton, starting from the pit lane due to a setup change after qualifying issues, executed a series of impressive overtakes to climb to seventh place, demonstrating his skill and experience.