Oscar Piastri dominated the only practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix on July 25, 2025, finishing with a time that was 0.404 seconds faster than Max Verstappen. This performance prevented McLaren from achieving a one-two finish. Meanwhile, Red Bull was without Christian Horner for the first time since 2005, and Lando Norris secured third place in the session.
Piastri’s impressive speed at Spa-Francorchamps set the stage for the sprint-format weekend, where qualifying for Saturday’s 100km race replaced the second practice session. Verstappen, representing Red Bull in its new era under Christian Horner, secured second place. Norris, who was 0.504 seconds behind Piastri’s time, faces a challenge as he tries to close the eight-point gap in the championship standings. Meanwhile, Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli finished in fourth and sixth places, respectively, sandwiching Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
Top 10: Piastri, Verstappen, Norris, Russell, Leclerc, Antonelli, Hamilton, Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Fernando Alonso, Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls).
NEW ⏱ TRACK ⏱ RECORD#F1Sprint #BelgianGP @OscarPiastri pic.twitter.com/FjbNG7yZ44
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 25, 2025Piastri’s Silverstone Lesson
Piastri addressed a costly 10-second penalty he received during the British Grand Prix, where erratic braking under the safety car cost him the win against Norris. He told Sky Sports F1, “I won’t brake as hard at restarts now.” The penalty arose from a sudden braking incident that forced Verstappen to momentarily overtake him, emphasizing the importance of smoother restarts.
"Let's go baby!"
Oscar Piastri punches in a near perfect lap to seal pole 🤩#F1Sprint #BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/UFwc6LKiGT
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 25, 2025The Belgian Grand Prix’s sprint format intensifies competition, with points available in Saturday’s race. Piastri’s eight-point lead over Norris and strong practice performance position him as a favourite. Red Bull’s transition post-Horner adds intrigue, while Mercedes and Ferrari aim to capitalise on Spa’s demanding layout.
| Position | Driver | Team | Time Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | – |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +0.404 |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.504 |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | – |
| 6 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | – |
Data source: Formula 1.
Piastri’s form strengthens McLaren’s title push, while Verstappen’s pace signals Red Bull’s resilience. Fans on X buzzed, with posts like: “Piastri’s untouchable at Spa!” The weekend’s sprint and main race will shape the championship narrative.
