Piastri proves too slick at slippery Spa

Oscar Piastri (McLaren) drove a magnificent race at Spa to win the Belgian Grand Prix last Sunday. To win a wet/dry grand prix is a real challenge at the best of times; to do it at this daring track is quite something. It proved to be a battle of the giants with skill and bravery uppermost. The drivers were doing over 300km/h in the wet – when concentration has to be 100%.

Lando Norris (McLaren) was in pole position for the 44 lap race but it only took Piastri five laps get past his teammate. He surged forward out of Norris’s slipstream, along the Kemmel straight and, almost blinded by the spray, passed Norris before the challenging Les Combes corner. Thereafter, Piastri was untouchable.

We all thought he would run out of tyres before the end but good management in looking after his boots saw him secure victory at this great racetrack. Poor Norris, try as he might he just had to give in to his rival on the day, but McLaren as a team were delighted.

Ferrari had mixed fortunes. Charles Leclerc gave us a well driven race into third place, Lewis Hamilton, in the second prancing horse, could only manage seventh despite coming through the field from the back of the grid. It was a great effort after spinning off the track in qualifying.

Next up was Max Verstappen (Red Bull) who on race day was just not quick enough to get past Leclerc. What a difference a day can make because Verstappen won the sprint race on Saturday with Piastri second, Norris third and Leclerc fourth.

This was somewhat different to Sunday’s race. In the dry, Red Bull had a flat setting on their back wing, making them the fastest car in a straight line. For Sunday’s main race they adjusted the wing to a steeper angle for the wet weather but lost the speed shown the previous day.

George Russell (Mercedes) had a good run to bring his car home in fifth, with Alex Albon (Williams) in sixth, closely followed by Hamilton in seventh position. Lawson (Racing Bull) was eighth, while Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) was ninth. Pierre Gasly (Alpine Renault) came home in the last point scoring position of tenth place.

Although there was not a lot of overtaking it was a wonderful spectacle and superb display of really great driving in adverse conditions. I really enjoy Spa and watching the best drivers in the world earning their keep.

With more than half of the season gone the cool and calculating Piastri is looking good for the championship, no doubt eagerly anticipated by fans from his home country Australia. Norris could also do it (he’s only 16 points behind) but will need to go some to beat the man from down under.

DRIVERS
1 Oscar Piastri 266
2 Lando Norris 250
3 Max Verstappen 185
4 George Russell 157
5 Charles Leclerc 139
6 Lewis Hamilton 109
7 Kimi Antonelli 63
8 Alexander Albon 54
9 Nico Hulkenberg 37
10 Esteban Ocon 27

CONSTRUCTORS
1 McLaren 516
2 Ferrari 248
3 Mercedes 220
4 Red Bull 192
5 Williams 70

HAVE YOUR SAY

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