Lando Norris missed the third win in Formula 1-because the World Cup leading, his McLaren colleague Oscar Piatri, showed an outstanding performance in the Rain Chaos of Spa.
Norris had previously won the two races in Great Britain and Austria and shortened the deficit in the driver’s ranking to nine points – now there are 16th place in Belgium Charles Leclerc in Ferrari, who just held the Max Verstappen in the Red Bull, which was getting faster and faster.
“Oscar just did it well. I can’t say more about that”said Norris: “He just did the better job at the beginning. After that I couldn’t do anything anymore. He deserves it.” Piatri was happy about the victory. “It was a perfect first round“, said Piatri, the slipstream helped him with the overtaking maneuver: “I hope we can take the swing with us.”
Long delay – Verstappen is annoyed
The race in the Ardennes had started with a delay of almost an hour. The start should actually take place at 3 p.m., but during the introductory round behind the Safety Car, the red flag stopped the pilots – the view was also considered too bad at the intervention of Polesetter Norris.
Still world champion Verstappen was annoyed: “It’s a bit silly. I mean, you should just drive a few laps, my goodness. They are far too careful”the Dutch sparked the Red Bull command stand. Verstappen feared a three -hour break – it didn’t happen that bad.
Fast attack by Piatri on Norris
After the start could finally be resumed, Bernd Mayländer first drove in the Aston Martin Vantage – five round Safety Car were announced. The racing approval only took a few seconds before Piatri attacked – with success. In the spraying spray, he sucked himself up at his teammates and gave no chance with the overtaking maneuver Norris.
As a result, Piatri continuously expanded his lead and was in the front over many rounds with almost ten seconds. In the meantime, Norris came closer again, and the fastest racing round also drove several times. But after a mistake in the 24th round, when he set his McLaren next to the route, the gap was as clear as before.
Hamilton operates Damage limitation
Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari, who had experienced a disaster in qualifying, beat very well. The British raced quickly into the top ten, made other places well and ended up with seven number of damage limitation. This time Nico Hülkenberg punched the points and finished twelfth.
The fight for third place remained exciting until shortly before the finish line. When the Ferrari crew once again pointed out about boxing radio that Verstappen was getting closer and closer, the otherwise smart Monegassen briefly burst the collar: “Be now, I see what’s going on”he divided back – and then ultimately drove his podium place home confidently.