Belgian Grand Prix 2025: A Thrilling Race at Spa-Francorchamps
The 2025 Formula 1 season reached an exciting milestone with the Belgian Grand Prix, held on July 27, 2025, at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in the eastern province of Liège, Belgium. This race marked the thirteenth event of the season, showcasing the remarkable skills and strategies of the teams and drivers under challenging weather conditions.
Race Overview
Oscar Piastri from McLaren triumphed in a spectacular fashion, starting from the second position. He quickly overtook his teammate, Lando Norris, who had secured pole position, shortly after the race commenced. Piastri crossed the finish line just ahead of Norris and Charles Leclerc, representing Ferrari, clinching an impressive victory that further solidified his standing in the championship.
Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion and teammate to Leclerc at Scuderia Ferrari, had an extraordinary race, finishing seventh after starting from eighteenth position. His remarkable comeback earned him the title of Driver of the Day in the official Formula 1 voting, showcasing his remarkable skill and determination.
The race’s start was delayed for nearly an hour and a half due to heavy rain, leading to treacherous track conditions. The green flag waved after four laps behind the Safety Car, allowing the drivers to navigate the slippery circuit. Despite the Safety Car’s presence, the full race distance of 44 laps was maintained.
Performance Analysis of the Teams
Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing had a mixed bag at Spa, with Max Verstappen carrying the team’s hopes on his shoulders. He secured a commendable fourth place in the main race after winning the Sprint event on Saturday. Verstappen’s victory in the Sprint marked his twelfth win in that format, showcasing his dominance in shorter races. His teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, faced difficulties throughout the weekend, finishing eleventh in the Sprint and dropping to thirteenth in the main race after starting seventh.
Mercedes-AMG Petronas
Like Red Bull, Mercedes-AMG Petronas was pleased with the performance of only one of their drivers, George Russell. Despite a disappointing Sprint race where he finished twelfth, Russell rebounded on Sunday, climbing from sixth to fifth place. This performance provided valuable points for the team. However, Kimi Antonelli continued to struggle, finishing seventeenth in the Sprint and sixteenth in the main race, marking the third consecutive event where he failed to score points.
Williams Racing
Williams Racing enjoyed a successful weekend, with both drivers contributing to the team’s points tally. Carlos Sainz performed well in the Sprint race, finishing sixth, while Alex Albon had a standout performance on Sunday, finishing sixth in the main race. This marked Albon’s best starting position and result since the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Unfortunately, Sainz faced setbacks in the main race, finishing eighteenth after starting from seventeenth.
Visa Cash App RB
The Visa Cash App RB team experienced a mixed weekend as well, with both drivers contributing to their points tally across the two races. Isack Hadjar secured a point in the Sprint by finishing eighth, while Liam Lawson finished just behind in tenth. In the main event, Lawson managed to secure eighth place, though Hadjar struggled and finished last, unable to maintain his earlier pace.
Stake Kick Sauber
Having recently celebrated a podium finish with Nico Hulkenberg at the British Grand Prix, Stake Kick Sauber continued their trend of finishing within the top ten. Although Hulkenberg didn’t score points in the Sprint, Gabriel Bortoleto stepped up, qualifying tenth and finishing ninth in the main race. Hulkenberg, who opted for an additional pit stop to fend off challenges from Pierre Gasly, finished twelfth.
BWT Alpine
BWT Alpine narrowly avoided leaving Belgium without any points, thanks to Pierre Gasly’s efforts. Gasly, who was the only driver to retire in the Sprint race, managed to secure a tenth-place finish in the main race, starting from thirteenth. His teammate, Franco Colapinto, struggled, finishing nineteenth in both races, raising uncertainties about his future with the team.
MoneyGram Haas
In an unusual turn of events, MoneyGram Haas secured all their points from the Sprint race, with both cars finishing in the top eight. Esteban Ocon stood out, finishing fifth, while Oliver Bearman claimed seventh. However, in the main race, Bearman fell just short of the points, finishing eleventh, while Ocon faced a disappointing fifteenth-place finish, marking a challenging day for the French driver.
Teams Without Points
The only team that failed to score any points during the Belgian Grand Prix was Aston Martin Aramco, which struggled to keep pace with the competition.
Current Standings in the Championship
As the 2025 season progresses, the championship standings have taken shape, with Oscar Piastri leading the Drivers’ Championship with 266 points. His teammate Lando Norris follows closely behind with 250 points, while Max Verstappen occupies third place with 185 points. The battle for the top positions continues to intensify as the season nears its conclusion.
Top 10 Drivers:
- Oscar Piastri #81 (McLaren) – 266 points
- Lando Norris #4 (McLaren) – 250 points
- Max Verstappen #1 (Red Bull Racing) – 185 points
- George Russell #63 (Mercedes-AMG Petronas) – 157 points
- Charles Leclerc #16 (Scuderia Ferrari HP) – 139 points
- Lewis Hamilton #44 (Scuderia Ferrari HP) – 109 points
- Kimi Antonelli #12 (Mercedes-AMG Petronas) – 63 points
- Alex Albon #23 (Atlassian Williams Racing) – 54 points
- Nico Hulkenberg #27 (Stake Kick Sauber) – 37 points
- Esteban Ocon #31 (MoneyGram Haas) – 27 points
Constructors’ Championship:
- McLaren – 516 points
- Scuderia Ferrari HP – 248 points
- Mercedes-AMG Petronas – 220 points
- Oracle Red Bull Racing – 192 points
- Atlassian Williams Racing – 70 points
- Kick Sauber – 43 points
- Visa Cash App RB – 41 points
- Aston Martin Aramco – 36 points
- MoneyGram Haas – 35 points
- BWT Alpine – 20 points
The next challenge for the teams will be the Hungarian Grand Prix, taking place on August 3, 2025. The excitement continues to build as the 2025 Formula 1 season unfolds, promising thrilling races and intense competition on the track.
Adonai, a passionate motorsport journalist from Rio de Janeiro, has always been captivated by the thrill of racing. Inspired by the words of legendary driver Ayrton Senna, he believes in the importance of dedication and commitment in every endeavor.
