Overview

• Oscar Piastri overtook teammate Lando Norris at Spa-Francorchamps to lead a sixth McLaren one-two of the season and extend his drivers’ championship advantage to 16 points.
• Max Verstappen’s sprint win and grand-prix points moved him out of reach of a contract exit clause, guaranteeing his continuation with Red Bull in 2026.
• Team boss Toto Wolff acknowledged Mercedes’ worst performance of the season followed a misjudged long-run practice, prompting a swift review of their sprint weekend preparation.
• George Russell attributed the team’s drop in pace to a development direction change earlier in the year and called for a return to previous car settings to regain competitiveness.
• An 80-minute rain delay and safety-car rolling start renewed debate over wet-weather race management as drivers and officials differed on the balance between caution and on-track action.