Belgian Grand Prix: the editors’ Top/Flop list

Oscar Piastri responds to Lando Norris

While Lando Norris was coming off two consecutive victories in Canada and Great Britain, Oscar Piastri took advantage of the summer break to bounce back better. Securing pole position in the Sprint, he was only beaten by Max Verstappen but finished ahead of his teammate. On Sunday, starting second behind Lando Norris, the Australian took control. By the 5th lap, he had seized the lead with an incisive maneuver. Then, despite a different strategy—medium tires for him versus hard tires for Lando Norris—Oscar Piastri perfectly managed his race to secure a sixth victory this season, the eighth of his career. He thus extends his lead in the championship, now 16 points ahead of Lando Norris. **A clear signal: Oscar Piastri does not intend to back down.**

A great comeback for Lewis Hamilton

After a weekend full of obstacles, marked by failed qualifications and public apologies, Lewis Hamilton started only 18th on the grid on Sunday. But the seven-time world champion responded with flair. On a wet track with intermediate tires, he gained several positions in the early laps by overtaking Sainz, Stroll, Gasly, and Hülkenberg. His risky decision to switch to medium tires as early as the 11th lap, when the track was still slippery, proved to be wise. This strategic choice allowed him to climb up to 7th place. Despite his Ferrari being unable to overtake Albon’s fast Williams, Lewis Hamilton managed to limit the damage at the end of a poorly started weekend. Meanwhile, Ferrari found solace in a new podium for Charles Leclerc, his fifth of the year.

Pierre Gasly scores more points

After his successful haul at Silverstone, Pierre Gasly experienced a turbulent Grand Prix at Spa. Penalized by a technical issue in the Sprint – two laps behind due to a water leak – and a modest 13th place in qualifying, the Norman managed to bounce back in the race. Like Lewis Hamilton, he opted for medium tires at the right moment, at the end of lap 11. Positioned on the edge of the top 10, Pierre Gasly then held off Yuki Tsunoda and Ollie Bearman for over 30 laps. He was finally rewarded for his efforts when Nico Hülkenberg made a second stop, granting him 10th place and the accompanying point. For the first time this season, the Alpine driver scored points in two consecutive Grand Prix.

A delayed departure

Once again, race management chose to err on the side of caution by delaying the start due to rain. This scenario is becoming almost routine in F1, to the point of questioning the usefulness of extreme wet tires. Initially scheduled for 3:00 PM, the event finally began at 4:20 PM, behind the safety car, due to a lack of visibility. This decision is controversial, as wet conditions are also an integral part of the sport. Ironically, the decision to postpone the start was made… after the rain had stopped.

Black Sunday for Isack Hadjar

Well positioned at the start with an 8th position on the grid, as in the Sprint, Isack Hadjar had a good chance to score points, which he hadn’t done since the Spanish Grand Prix. But the Frenchman had a very difficult race: struggling with an unstable Racing Bulls, he quickly lost positions. Despite a strategic attempt with two stops, **Isack Hadjar finished 20th and dead last at Spa**.

Yuki Tsunoda remains in the tough spot.

Nothing is going right for Yuki Tsunoda. For the sixth consecutive race, the Japanese driver finishes outside the points. Despite qualifying in 7th position, he hoped to reverse the trend. But during the race, he never managed to get the better of Pierre Gasly’s Alpine, even with the help of DRS for more than 20 laps. In the end, an anonymous 12th place extends his poor streak.