Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), July 28 (H.S.): Oscar Piastri secured victory at the rain-delayed Belgian Grand Prix, extending his championship lead to 16 points while fending off teammate Lando Norris. Piastri took the lead with an impressive overtake on Lap 5, finishing 3.8 seconds ahead of Norris. This 1-2 finish for McLaren strengthened their hold on the constructors’ championship with 248 points.

After an hour delay due to heavy rain, Lewis Hamilton made a notable comeback from the back of the grid to finish seventh, while Charles Leclerc claimed third, ahead of Max Verstappen in fourth. The decision on when to switch to slick tires was crucial as track conditions improved, with Hamilton pitting early to regain lost ground. Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto finished ninth, achieving consecutive points.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar