Dominant Oscar Piastri wins Belgian GP, extends F1 championship lead - ESPN

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium — Oscar Piastri's decisive early pass proved to be enough for a vital victory over teammate and title rival Lando Norris at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Piastri turned in a flawless race to win by a comfortable 3.41 seconds despite Norris having a tire advantage in the closing stages.

The win, the sixth of his season and eighth of his career, extended Piastri's title lead to 16 points and denied Norris, who had started from pole, a third straight win.

«Let's go!» Piastri said over his radio postrace. «Nicely done. Nicely f---ing done.»

After the race Piastri reflected on his strong position starting on the front row.

«I knew Lap 1 would be my best chance of winning the race,» he said. «I got a good exit out of Turn 1, lifted as little as I dared out of Eau Rouge.

»The rest of the race we managed really well. I struggled at the end. Maybe the mediums were not the best for the last five or six laps. We had it mostly under control.

«I was pretty disappointed with myself yesterday but turns out starting P2 was not as bad as I thought.»

Meanwhile, Norris said: «Oscar just did a good job [at the start]. Nothing more to say. I committed a bit more through Eau Rouge, and had the slipstream and got the run.

»So nothing to complain of. He did a better job in the beginning, and that was it. Nothing more I could do after that point. I would love to be up top, but Oscar deserved it today."

Charles Leclerc took a morale-boosting podium for Ferrari ahead of reigning champion Max Verstappen, albeit in a distant battle behind the dominant McLaren pair.

«Max was behind the whole race within two seconds, so it's never easy,» the Leclerc said. «Luckily it dried up pretty quickly, then the pace was good. But Max was