Oscar Piastri secured a commanding victory at the rain-delayed Belgian Grand Prix, surging past McLaren teammate Lando Norris on the opening lap to extend his lead in the championship standings.
The Australian driver capitalized on a wet-dry track condition, making a decisive move on Norris as the race began after a lengthy delay due to heavy rain. Piastri maintained control throughout the race, managing his tires effectively to secure his sixth win of the season.
The race start was pushed back by an hour and a half due to adverse weather conditions. When the green flag finally dropped, Piastri swiftly overtook Norris, who had initially taken the lead. Norris' team opted for a different tire strategy, hoping to capitalize on the drying track, but Piastri's early lead proved insurmountable.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished third, holding off Red Bull's Max Verstappen in the tricky opening laps. Verstappen ended up in fourth place, further widening the gap between himself and Piastri in the championship.
Mercedes' George Russell secured fifth place after passing Williams' Alex Albon in the early stages, while Lewis Hamilton, starting from the pit lane, drove an impressive race to finish seventh.
Piastri's victory was sealed with a bold move on the first lap, diving around the outside of Norris into the Les Combes chicane. Norris admitted that Piastri had executed a better first lap, pushing harder through the wet Eau Rouge section.
"Oscar did a good job," Norris conceded post-race. "He committed more through Eau Rouge and used the slipstream to his advantage."
Piastri attributed his success to a calculated risk on the first lap. "I knew that lap one was my best chance to win," he said. "I lifted as little as I dared through Eau Rouge, and it worked out well."
With this victory, Piastri now leads the championship by 16 points heading into the Hungarian Grand Prix next weekend. The race in Spa-Francorchamps was marked by strategic tire management and decisive overtakes, with Piastri's performance standing out amidst the challenging conditions.
Hamilton's impressive drive from the pit lane added to the excitement, as he climbed from 16th on the grid to seventh place, showcasing his skill and determination despite the setback.
As the Formula 1 season continues, the Belgian Grand Prix proved to be a thrilling display of strategy, skill, and resilience, with Piastri emerging as the clear winner in a race that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
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