McLaren’s Oscar Piastri reflected on the 2025 F1 Belgian GP Sprint Race by acknowledging that the start went largely as anticipated. Starting from pole position, he faced a tough challenge against Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, which had a clear advantage in straight-line speed. While speaking in the press conference after Saturday’s Sprint Race, Piastri explained that despite his efforts to weave through the straights and minimise slipstream advantages, he simply could not match the Red Bull’s pace over the full 15 laps.
“Pretty much, yeah. I tried my best to snake my way through the straights and not give too much of a tow but I just didn’t have enough straight-line speed and then obviously didn’t have enough straight-line speed for the next 15 laps either. Still a good result, still good points. It is only the Sprint, the main points are tomorrow. Pretty happy with it but just a bit frustrating that I couldn’t get past.”
Piastri positive by aware of key challenges
Piastri maintained a positive outlook on the points gained from the 2025 F1 Belgian GP Sprint Race, but there was an undercurrent of frustration at being unable to convert pole position into a win or close pressure on Verstappen.
He also addressed the key challenge of the weekend: the balance between straight-line speed and cornering ability, particularly at a circuit like Spa-Francorchamps where long straights reward power and aerodynamic efficiency. The lack of straight-line speed in his McLaren left him vulnerable, especially in the opening laps where track position is critical.
Weather a factor in deciding Sunday set-up
When asked how the team might adjust the car setup ahead of Sunday’s GP to prevent a repeat of being unable to overtake, Piastri highlighted the complexity of managing aerodynamic balance given the unpredictable weather forecast.
“It’s a great question. The weather is looking pretty bad for tomorrow, which obviously means you probably don’t want to take off too much wing, but I don’t really want to repeat the Sprint we’ve just had. We’ll have a look, see what we can do. There’s a lot of things to look into before tomorrow.”
Race pace and overtaking difficulties
During the post-race press conference, Piastri provided further insight into the nature of his race against Verstappen. He candidly admitted that while he got close at times, overtaking was never realistically on the cards due to the nature of the corners and the straight-line speed deficit.
“Realistically, not that close. I think there was one or two times where I got within a car length but the problem is I didn’t have enough. And Turn 5 is not really a corner where you can make a lunge on someone. Once they defend the inside, it’s difficult to do anything. So I think realistically I was going to have to try and get past on the straight, which we were no chance of doing.”
This explanation sheds light on the tactical limitations at Spa, where slipstreaming is vital, but without a clear pace advantage, passing is exceedingly difficult. Turn 5, a fast left-hander at the end of the Kemmel Straight, is a classic overtaking spot, but only when the chasing car has sufficient speed.
Piastri recognised the mental challenge of the race, understanding going in that he might be stuck behind the Red Bull for the majority of the 2025 F1 Belgian GP Sprint. Nevertheless, he was prepared for the challenge and accepted the situation professionally.
“A little bit frustrating, but we knew that was a possibility going into the Sprint and I was prepared for maybe not to be within eight tenths the whole race and not be able to do anything, but for this kind of result.”
Overheated tyres minimized middle sector advantage
When asked whether he realised the race would be so difficult once Verstappen passed him on lap one, Piastri said that while he was hopeful to remain competitive in the middle sector, tyre degradation and heat buildup quickly eroded that advantage.
“Not necessarily. I was hoping we would be super quick in the middle sector and be able to hang on, but I think I could for the first part of the race. But spending that much time right behind someone, you overheat the tyres very quickly. Especially around here, they deg as well. It’s not just getting hot. I think the back end of the race I lost some of the advantage in the middle sector that I had and obviously you don’t gain anything more on the straight.”
Strategic considerations for Sunday’s Grand Prix
Looking ahead to Sunday’s 2025 F1 Belgian GP race, Piastri addressed the challenges posed by the forecasted wet conditions and how this would influence car setup. The trade-off between downforce for wet weather and the need for straight-line speed in dry conditions was a difficult one to solve.
“I don’t know yet. We’ll wait and see. If it is wet, then naturally you want a bit more downforce, but if it’s not wet, then I don’t really want a repeat of the Sprint race we’ve just had. So we’ll have a look for sure, but it’ll be interesting to see if anyone changes and which way we go.”
This uncertainty is typical of Spa, where sudden weather changes can dramatically alter race dynamics. Teams must therefore remain flexible and ready to adapt their strategies quickly.
Verstappen better than expected in the Sprint
When pressed about whether he was surprised by Verstappen’s tyre management and race pace, especially given the close proximity for much of the 2025 F1 Belgian GP Sprint, Piastri acknowledged that while the Red Bull was quicker than expected, the challenge was always going to be significant.
“I think it was probably a little bit better than I expected, but I wasn’t expecting Max to be slow, that’s for sure. I knew it was going to be a challenge, maybe not quite as difficult as it was, but I think, like I said before, after following so closely for so long, the tyres just naturally get to a point where they can’t do much anymore, and it’s a bit of an equaliser. So, it wasn’t a big surprise for me.”
Tactical attempts and battery management
Piastri also gave insight into the tactical approaches he employed throughout the 2025 F1 Belgian GP Sprint, including experimenting with different lines at La Source, the tight opening hairpin, and battery deployment to gain any possible advantage.
“I was trying. I was definitely trying. It’s difficult because you want to save the battery at some points, you want to use it at some points, but you also don’t want to drop too far back and give yourself too much of a gap to actually close up to because it wasn’t as simple as just getting DRS and then letting DRS do the rest. You had to be even closer than that. That was tricky, but I certainly tried in those 15 laps, but to no avail.”
This comment reveals the intricacies of modern F1 racecraft, where energy management plays a critical role in overtaking. The combination of battery deployment, DRS usage, and close proximity to the car ahead requires careful balancing to avoid losing time or traction. Piastri’s efforts, though ultimately unsuccessful in overtaking, demonstrate his persistence and willingness to adapt tactics mid-race to maximise his chances.
