F1 Belgian Grand Prix live updates: Follow reaction as Oscar Piastri beats Lando Norris to victory

New York Times

13 hours ago

McLaren grabs another 1-2, after Spa-Francorchamps hosted round 13 of the 2025 Formula One world championship Getty Images
Oscar Piastri has won the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix, despite a delayed start of 80 minutes due to rain at Spa-Francorchamps.
Lando Norris qualified on pole but the race began with a rolling start behind the safety car due to the wet conditions.
Then on the first visit to Les Combes once the safety car had come in, Piastri produced a brilliant move to grab a race lead he held to the checkered flag.
Norris was in hot pursuit in the final laps, hoping his hard tires would get him within striking distance. But the Brit made one too many mistakes, never getting close enough to challenge his McLaren teammate for victory.
As for further down the order, Lewis Hamilton made great progress to finish P7 after a disastrous qualifying saw him start in 18th.
You can follow all the live reaction below.
Result: 1 PIA, 2 NOR, 3 LEC, 4 VER, 5 RUS
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Belgian Grand Prix briefing: Piastri wins, Hamilton impresses after chaotic start
A note from race control pops up…
💬 'Risk of rain for F1 race is 100%'
Quite.
It also confirms the formation lap will be started from behind the safety car…
We have FIVE minutes to go until lights out at the Belgian Grand Prix.
So, go press play below and LET'S GO…
I have to say, we've seen some of the cockpit footage as the cars drove around to the grid earlier, and the rain started to fall.
That visibility is nasty.
We may yet get a delayed start too — and it's probably worth noting that the race will be limited to two hours of running if there are delays once it is underway.
I've come back from the grid a bit early because it's raining that heavily.
Less than 15 minutes to go until we're due to start. X/F1
This is a really interesting graphic from F1, showing how the performance of the respective teams has altered compared to McLaren at the front.
Those in green show teams that have caught up. Those in red are the teams that have lost further ground.
That said, it's only two tracks — the change in performance from the opening round in Australia, compared to the previous round in Britain — and for that reason, none of us should make too many concrete conclusions.
With a wet race ahead here in Spa too, it won't just be car performance that delivers our final result either. Getty Images
How do things stand right now? As Kimi Antonelli said during Thursday's FIA news conference: 'That's the one million-dollar question.'
Lewis Hamilton, who was sat next to the Mercedes rookie, added: 'I can help you with the contract. I know how to work Toto (Wolff).'
Speculation has continued to circle about Mercedes' driver lineup for 2026. With 12 race weekends done and just one more to go after today before the summer break, nothing has been officially announced from Mercedes about the future of Antonelli or his teammate, George Russell.
Both contracts are up at the end of the season and Russell has faced continued questions regarding it, particularly as rumors grew over whether Max Verstappen could make a move to Mercedes.
But Antonelli said he's never been worried about his racing future:
💬 'I know the situation. I know what the team wants, especially looking at the future. Also, Toto has been clear recently, so that's good to see.
'Me and George are working well together. We're trying to help the team to find performance again. I think we're doing a good job, and there's a really good atmosphere.
'I'm sure the team knows what's best, especially for next year, and I'm pretty confident I'm in a good position.'
Antonelli's weekend has been tough. He exited both sprint and grand prix qualifying in the opening session, finished the sprint race P17 and starts today from the pit lane.
The pressure is on and the Italian needs a positive performance here, now…
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Want Max Verstappen, Toto? Then make a blockbuster George Russell partnership work for F1 Getty Images
Really interesting nugget from the legend that is Martin Brundle — as a fellow Norfolkian, I'm allowed to be biased — as he tackles his grid walk for Sky Sports' coverage.
He points out some wet tires on a rack, noting that they are the only tires that are not allowed to be heated ahead of being put on a car.
I guess it makes sense too. It really is raining now, and Lewis Hamilton has already had it confirmed to him that this level of rain will continue for another 30 minutes or so.
A race start behind the safety car? It feels like it right now... Getty Images
Max Verstappen has had a different voice on the other end of the radio this weekend at Spa with his regular race engineer, GianPiero Lambiase, missing due to personal reasons.
Lambiase was also absent for the Austrian Grand Prix last month, also for personal reasons.
He has been replaced again by Simon Rennie, who previously served as Daniel Ricciardo's race engineer at Red Bull before becoming the team's simulator chief in recent years.
Verstappen and Lambiase, known by his nickname of GP, have struck up a close bond in their years working together.
The only race since Verstappen's Red Bull debut at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix that Lambiase wasn't on the other end of the radio, was in Austria.
And it clearly had little impact yesterday, as Verstappen raced to an excellent sprint victory. Same again today? Getty Images
Christian Horner's sacking was the biggest story by a distance, heading into this Belgian Grand Prix weekend. Here are some of your views on the news…
💬 Ben G: 'Scenes! Probably overdue if this is the fallout from the scandal. Otherwise, maybe feels a bit kneejerk if it's related to this year's performance.'
💬 Christian V: 'This either Max Verstappen's (and Jos') condition to remain in Red Bull, or a consequence of Max already leaving for Mercedes. Funny how this came out of nowhere and not after months of rumors and speculation like with the drivers.'
💬 Arin S: 'Horner has always been a divisive figure, even more so than Toto and Zack. He still clearly cared for his drivers. Something seemed off with RB since Newey left. A good amount of people clearly didn't want to be in such a political environment.'
💬 Annie M: 'Epic reign, epic fall. Not sure F1 is better off without him.'
💬 Crk J: 'With all sincerity, the very best of luck to Laurent Mekies. Hopefully he is given adequate opportunity and proper operational control. As long as Helmut Marko remains connected to the team, RBR will never truly have moved on from whatever ails them.'
💬 Dominic A: 'They should install Horner as Racing Bulls team principal and, if he does well, maybe he gets another chance at the big team.'
Remember, you can add your thoughts with an email whenever you wish. That address again: [e-mail] Getty Images
Christian Horner's sudden dismissal as team principal sent shockwaves through Red Bull Racing.
As the team navigates its first race weekend without the only boss it has ever known, our own Luke Smith examines how Horner's replacement — Laurent Mekies — is trying to unite the squad and keep Max Verstappen committed.
This is all eyes on Red Bull, and its first weekend in F1 without the man who had been its prominent leader…
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How Red Bull adjusts to F1 life after Christian Horner: 'It was a shock to me'
Christian Horner led Red Bull Racing from obscurity to F1 dominance over 20 years. He became the face of the team for fans of 'Drive To Survive.'
Then just three days after the British Grand Prix and to much surprise — following scandal, poor form and a lengthy power struggle at the top of the team — Horner was sacked.
This is the first F1 weekend featuring a Horner-less Red Bull since the team arrived in the sport.
Our F1 correspondent Luke Smith dissected what happened, and you can take it all in below.
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Why Red Bull sacked Christian Horner now, after a year that never stopped spiraling Luke Smith
UPDATE: It's raining now...
I'm down on the grid and happy to report no rain right now. But it's meant to heave it down in about 20-30 minutes.
The teams have got their wet weather tires ready on the grid as the cars head over to their starting spots. Sign up to The Athletic
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In soccer we've got the final of Euro 2025 later today between England and Spain, while U.S. Open tennis and Ryder Cup golf are both coming into view.
Throw in the MLB season hitting its straps and NFL preseason hitting the radar, and there is plenty to follow.
We have the lot covered and much more besides, so make sure you're fully informed with access to our full experience.
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Heading into this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, there was reason for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari to feel optimistic.
Hamilton has been building momentum after a rollercoaster start to life with Ferrari and there was a set of upgrades for Spa that Ferrari hoped would boost its performance, including a new rear suspension.
Charles Leclerc grabbed third on the grid for today's race, outqualifying sprint race winner Max Verstappen.
But Hamilton languished in a lowly 16th as his miserable Spa weekend continued, having already been eliminated in the first stage of sprint race qualifying. Hamilton told reporters:
💬 'Everyone does that, takes that curb. But I'm out, so… From my side, another mistake. So I've really got to look internal. I've got to apologize to my team, because it's just unacceptable to be out in both Q1s.
'It's (a) very, very poor performance from myself.'
Hamilton is a five-time winner of the Belgian GP, including last year when he inherited victory after George Russell's disqualification.
You have to go back to his debut season in 2007 for the last time he finished the race but failed to stand on the podium, crossing the line in fourth place.
It's a track he loves and where he flourishes.
Barring something remarkable — and it looks like we're getting a wet race — this will go down as another dip in this fluctuating first season with Ferrari.
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How Lewis Hamilton's Belgium GP weekend unraveled despite Ferrari upgrades Getty Images
With those pit lane starts, here is how the starting grid will look at Spa… 1: LANDO NORRIS (MCL)
LANDO NORRIS (MCL) > 2: Oscar Piastri (MCL)
Oscar Piastri (MCL) 3: Charles Leclerc (FER)
Charles Leclerc (FER) > 4: Max Verstappen (RBR)
Max Verstappen (RBR) 5: Alex Albon (WIL)
Alex Albon (WIL) > 6: George Russell (MER)
George Russell (MER) 7: Yuki Tsunoda (RBR)
Yuki Tsunoda (RBR) > 8: Isack Hadjar (RB)
Isack Hadjar (RB) 9: Liam Lawson (RB)
Liam Lawson (RB) > 10: Gabriel Bortoleto (SAU)
Gabriel Bortoleto (SAU) 11: Ocon (HAS) / 12: Bearman (HAS)
13: Gasly (ALP) / 14: Hülkenberg (SAU)
15: Sainz (WIL) / 16: Colapinto (ALP)
17: Stroll (AST)
Then in the pit lane, they will line up in the order of Lewis Hamilton (FER), Kimi Antonelli (MER) and Fernando Alonso (AST). Getty Images
A reminder here that Lewis Hamilton will start today's Belgian Grand Prix from the pit lane, as reported by our F1 correspondent Luke Smith earlier today.
Ferrari opted to take a number of new power unit elements for Hamilton's car ahead of the race, after Hamilton qualified a lowly 16th yesterday. As Luke explained:
📝 'It's very normal for teams who have drivers at the rear of the field to opt for a pit lane start, as it also means they can make changes to the car setup outside of parc ferme.
'That could be especially useful today for Ferrari with Hamilton as in theory, it could bank on a very wet race where a higher downforce setup would pay off — rather than what he (and everyone else) ran in qualifying.'
Kimi Antonelli and Fernando Alonso will also start from the pit lane, after their respective (P18 and P19) qualifying performances yesterday. Getty Images
And let's bring you this too. This is the 2025 season's pole position tallies and average qualifying positions (AQP) for the field.
It's now four poles each for the top three drivers, following Lando Norris' excellent qualifying yesterday… 1: OSCAR PIASTRI (MCL) — 4 poles / 2.15 AQP
— / 2: Max Verstappen (RBR) — 4 poles / 3.15
3: Lando Norris (MCL) — 4 poles / 3.31
4: George Russell (MER) — 1 pole / 4.46
As for those without a pole so far in 2025… 5: Charles Leclerc (FER) — 5.46
6: Lewis Hamilton (FER) — 7.69
7: Kimi Antonelli (MER) — 8.77
8: Alex Albon (WIL) — 9.77
9: Isack Hadjar (RB) — 9.92
10: Fernando Alonso (AST) — 11.38 Getty Images
Did any 2025 qualifying patterns snap at Spa yesterday? You bet they did…
Ferrari was one of only two teams to avoid a Q1 exit this season — but its record was ended with that Lewis Hamilton Q1 failure, leaving McLaren out on its own.
Likewise for Hamilton, who suffered a Q1 and SQ1 exit in consecutive days here. The joys of a sprint race weekend, right Lewis?
The good news for Alex Albon, George Russell and Isack Hadjar was that they remained clear of a Q1 exit this season.
And sadly for Nico Hülkenberg, he remains the only driver to tackle all 13 qualifying sessions this season and not make it into Q3 at least once.