The 2025 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps delivered a thrilling and consequential race, marked by a significant shift in the championship standings and numerous strategic gambles. After an 80-minute rain delay and a rolling start behind the safety car, the action unfolded with impressive overtakes and costly errors. Let’s break down who came out on top and who left feeling disappointed.
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Belgian Grand Prix Biggest Winner: Oscar Piastri | McLaren
Oscar Piastri secured a spectacular and dominant victory at the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix, holding the race lead from his brilliant first-lap move to the checkered flag. After qualifying on pole for the sprint race, his strong form in dry sprint qualifying on Friday suggested a win was possible. Despite Lando Norris starting from pole in the main race, Piastri pounced at the start, showing immense pace and being the furthest ahead when conditions were sketchiest. He executed a gutsy move on Norris out of La Source on Lap 1, using the slipstream to slingshot past and take the lead. Piastri then managed his more brittle medium tires perfectly to the finish, never putting a wheel out of place. This victory was his eighth Grand Prix win and doubled his lead over teammate Norris to a whopping 16 points in the drivers’ championship as they head to Hungary.
Biggest Loser of Belgian Grand Prix: Lando Norris | McLaren
Lando Norris had a frustrating day at Spa, converting a convincing pole position into a mere second-place finish. He admitted that Piastri “did a good job” and deserved the win. Despite Norris’s reputation for strong performances in wet conditions, Piastri’s excellent run from the start allowed him to seize the lead early on. Norris overcompensated for having to wring lap time out of the slower hard tires, leading to three mistakes totaling over four seconds in the second half of the race. Being second on the road also forced him to do an extra lap before pitting, which cost him over six seconds. Ultimately, finishing second is a loss, and it significantly widened the points gap to his teammate Piastri.
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Winner: Charles Leclerc | Ferrari
You might think Charles Leclerc’s third-place podium finish was down to a good qualifying and setup choice, but that would understate his tenacious drive. Boosted by the track drying quickly and a setup leaning towards dry conditions, Leclerc’s biggest challenge was fighting off Max Verstappen in the early wet stages. He managed his Ferrari expertly, even admitting he told his engineer to “leave me alone” at one point due to the pressure. A clean pit stop, combined with Verstappen losing time, allowed him to manage his cushion to the finish. This marks his fourth podium in six races, and Ferrari’s latest upgrades, including rear suspension changes, appear to be working, helping them secure a more stable second place in the constructors’ standings.
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Loser: Max Verstappen | Red Bull
Max Verstappen had a disappointing Sunday, powerless to repeat his sprint race heroics. Red Bull had anticipated a full wet race and set up their car with significantly more downforce, which proved costly when the majority of the Grand Prix was held in dry conditions. Verstappen was stuck behind Charles Leclerc’s more slippery Ferrari for the entire race, unable to make a pass. He expressed frustration after the race, blaming his peers for urging race control to delay the start due to visibility. This strategic gamble backfired significantly, contributing to his fifth-place finish and allowing Piastri to extend his championship lead.
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Winner: Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari
Despite a “disastrous” qualifying that saw him start from 18th position and then opt for a pit lane start, Lewis Hamilton delivered a flawless comeback drive at the Belgian Grand Prix. He gained an impressive 11 positions, finishing in seventh place. Hamilton was the only pit lane starter to move up the order significantly. His rush through the field was thanks in no small part to a decisive move to be the first to pit for slicks, and he passed more cars than anyone else on track. Ferrari’s updated suspension, which addresses ride height issues, seems to have provided a positive step forward. His performance was a “brilliant day’s work” and a “glimmer of better things soon to come” in his first year with Ferrari.
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Loser: Aston Martin
Aston Martin had a dreadful weekend at Spa. The sight of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll battling for second-to-last place in the early stint pointed to their predictable outcome. A lack of qualifying pace was the biggest culprit, setting up an underwhelming race. Similar to Red Bull, Aston Martin’s car had been set up for a wet race, but the dry conditions exposed their compromise, leading to them looking about as competitive as they had all weekend. Stroll failed to move up the order significantly, and pitlane starter Alonso never looked like he was making any progress throughout the slog. Their struggle on various circuits, which require both high top speeds and firm medium-to-high-speed cornering grip, was evident.
