Lando Norris conceded that his lack of full commitment cost him the Belgian Grand Prix on the opening lap of a rain-drenched race. The heavy rain at Spa-Francorchamps led to a 90-minute delay as race control deemed the track conditions too hazardous.
Oscar Piastri made a decisive move at the start of the race, seizing the lead on the same straight where he had lost to Max Verstappen the day before. Piastri’s strategic maneuver put him ahead, now leading his McLaren teammate and Formula 1 title contender by 17 points.
Norris acknowledged Piastri’s skill, stating that the Australian driver deserved the victory for his bold move through Eau Rouge and strategic positioning on the Kemmel Straight. Piastri, initially wary of the rolling start, managed to outmaneuver Norris and secure his lead early on.
Piastri’s choice of medium tires over Norris’s hard tires provided an advantage in the later stages of the race. Despite making some errors towards the end, Norris pushed hard but ultimately finished just over three seconds behind.
Charles Leclerc secured the final podium spot while Verstappen settled for fourth place in Red Bull’s first Grand Prix without Christian Horner. Verstappen expressed frustration with the FIA for what he perceived as a missed opportunity for a more exciting wet race.
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Verstappen criticized the cautious approach to starting the race, suggesting an earlier start time. He emphasized the need for a balance between safety and maintaining the excitement of wet races, advocating for more thrilling competitions like those seen at Silverstone.