Piastri 'deserved' Belgian Grand Prix victory: Norris
Heading home McLaren teammate Norris, who had started on pole, means Australian driver Piastri's lead has jumped from nine to 16 points.
It also halted his English rival's gathering momentum - Norris had won the previous two races to slash Piastri's overall lead to single figures.
Norris, who was passed by Piastri on the first racing lap at Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday, said: "Shoulda, woulda, coulda. Oscar deserved it."
"Oscar just did a good job. Nothing more to say. 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."
The decisive moment of the afternoon came moments after the race finally got underway.
Piastri charged through the spray to slipstream Norris through the daunting Eau Rouge and scythed past on the uphill straight, with his overtaken teammate complaining of a possible battery issue.
Piastri then proceeded largely untroubled as he powered on to finish 3.415 seconds clear of his arch-rival.
Norris reduced Piastri's lead toward the end of the race but the Australian held on with worn tires with his teammate unable to get close enough to challenge.
"I knew Lap 1 (after the safety car) would probably be my best chance of winning the race. I got a good exit out of Turn 1, lifted as little as I dared and yeah, we had it mostly under control," Piastri said after his eighth Formula One career win and sixth of this season.
Piastri had been disappointed to qualify second for the race behind Norris, but it "turns out starting second at Spa is not so bad after all," he said.
The world title initiative has suddenly swung back to Piastri, who heads to Hungary for next Sunday's grand prix having won his first race in Budapest last season.
Norris added: "I'll review my things but still happy for the team, another 1-2 and our first 1-2 here for many, many years."
The race had been red-flagged after an initial formation lap due to standing water and heavy spray affecting visibility.
That resulted in a delay of an hour and 20 minutes as officials waited for conditions at the notoriously weather-prone circuit to improve.
Charles Leclerc was a distant third for Ferrari as dominant champions McLaren celebrated their sixth one-two finish in 13 races and the third in a row.
Titleholder Max Verstappen, in his first full race under a new Red Bull chief following the departure of Christian Horner, finished fourth.
George Russell, of Mercedes, who crossed the line first in Spa last year but was disqualified due to his car being underweight, was fifth this time and Williams' Alex Albon came home sixth.
With agencies
Oscar Piastri has been hailed by title rival Lando Norris after taking a major step towards a first world championship title by defying wet conditions to win a rain-delayed Belgian Grand Prix.
Heading home McLaren teammate Norris, who had started on pole, means Australian driver Piastri's lead has jumped from nine to 16 points.
It also halted his English rival's gathering momentum - Norris had won the previous two races to slash Piastri's overall lead to single figures.
Norris, who was passed by Piastri on the first racing lap at Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday, said: "Shoulda, woulda, coulda. Oscar deserved it."
"Oscar just did a good job. Nothing more to say. 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."
The decisive moment of the afternoon came moments after the race finally got underway.
Piastri charged through the spray to slipstream Norris through the daunting Eau Rouge and scythed past on the uphill straight, with his overtaken teammate complaining of a possible battery issue.
Piastri then proceeded largely untroubled as he powered on to finish 3.415 seconds clear of his arch-rival.
Norris reduced Piastri's lead toward the end of the race but the Australian held on with worn tires with his teammate unable to get close enough to challenge.
"I knew Lap 1 (after the safety car) would probably be my best chance of winning the race. I got a good exit out of Turn 1, lifted as little as I dared and yeah, we had it mostly under control," Piastri said after his eighth Formula One career win and sixth of this season.
Piastri had been disappointed to qualify second for the race behind Norris, but it "turns out starting second at Spa is not so bad after all," he said.
The world title initiative has suddenly swung back to Piastri, who heads to Hungary for next Sunday's grand prix having won his first race in Budapest last season.
Norris added: "I'll review my things but still happy for the team, another 1-2 and our first 1-2 here for many, many years."
The race had been red-flagged after an initial formation lap due to standing water and heavy spray affecting visibility.
That resulted in a delay of an hour and 20 minutes as officials waited for conditions at the notoriously weather-prone circuit to improve.
Charles Leclerc was a distant third for Ferrari as dominant champions McLaren celebrated their sixth one-two finish in 13 races and the third in a row.
Titleholder Max Verstappen, in his first full race under a new Red Bull chief following the departure of Christian Horner, finished fourth.
George Russell, of Mercedes, who crossed the line first in Spa last year but was disqualified due to his car being underweight, was fifth this time and Williams' Alex Albon came home sixth.
With agencies
Oscar Piastri has been hailed by title rival Lando Norris after taking a major step towards a first world championship title by defying wet conditions to win a rain-delayed Belgian Grand Prix.
Heading home McLaren teammate Norris, who had started on pole, means Australian driver Piastri's lead has jumped from nine to 16 points.
It also halted his English rival's gathering momentum - Norris had won the previous two races to slash Piastri's overall lead to single figures.
Norris, who was passed by Piastri on the first racing lap at Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday, said: "Shoulda, woulda, coulda. Oscar deserved it."
"Oscar just did a good job. Nothing more to say. 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."
The decisive moment of the afternoon came moments after the race finally got underway.
Piastri charged through the spray to slipstream Norris through the daunting Eau Rouge and scythed past on the uphill straight, with his overtaken teammate complaining of a possible battery issue.
Piastri then proceeded largely untroubled as he powered on to finish 3.415 seconds clear of his arch-rival.
Norris reduced Piastri's lead toward the end of the race but the Australian held on with worn tires with his teammate unable to get close enough to challenge.
"I knew Lap 1 (after the safety car) would probably be my best chance of winning the race. I got a good exit out of Turn 1, lifted as little as I dared and yeah, we had it mostly under control," Piastri said after his eighth Formula One career win and sixth of this season.
Piastri had been disappointed to qualify second for the race behind Norris, but it "turns out starting second at Spa is not so bad after all," he said.
The world title initiative has suddenly swung back to Piastri, who heads to Hungary for next Sunday's grand prix having won his first race in Budapest last season.
Norris added: "I'll review my things but still happy for the team, another 1-2 and our first 1-2 here for many, many years."
The race had been red-flagged after an initial formation lap due to standing water and heavy spray affecting visibility.
That resulted in a delay of an hour and 20 minutes as officials waited for conditions at the notoriously weather-prone circuit to improve.
Charles Leclerc was a distant third for Ferrari as dominant champions McLaren celebrated their sixth one-two finish in 13 races and the third in a row.
Titleholder Max Verstappen, in his first full race under a new Red Bull chief following the departure of Christian Horner, finished fourth.
George Russell, of Mercedes, who crossed the line first in Spa last year but was disqualified due to his car being underweight, was fifth this time and Williams' Alex Albon came home sixth.
With agencies
Oscar Piastri has been hailed by title rival Lando Norris after taking a major step towards a first world championship title by defying wet conditions to win a rain-delayed Belgian Grand Prix.
Heading home McLaren teammate Norris, who had started on pole, means Australian driver Piastri's lead has jumped from nine to 16 points.
It also halted his English rival's gathering momentum - Norris had won the previous two races to slash Piastri's overall lead to single figures.
Norris, who was passed by Piastri on the first racing lap at Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday, said: "Shoulda, woulda, coulda. Oscar deserved it."
"Oscar just did a good job. Nothing more to say. 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."
The decisive moment of the afternoon came moments after the race finally got underway.
Piastri charged through the spray to slipstream Norris through the daunting Eau Rouge and scythed past on the uphill straight, with his overtaken teammate complaining of a possible battery issue.
Piastri then proceeded largely untroubled as he powered on to finish 3.415 seconds clear of his arch-rival.
Norris reduced Piastri's lead toward the end of the race but the Australian held on with worn tires with his teammate unable to get close enough to challenge.
"I knew Lap 1 (after the safety car) would probably be my best chance of winning the race. I got a good exit out of Turn 1, lifted as little as I dared and yeah, we had it mostly under control," Piastri said after his eighth Formula One career win and sixth of this season.
Piastri had been disappointed to qualify second for the race behind Norris, but it "turns out starting second at Spa is not so bad after all," he said.
The world title initiative has suddenly swung back to Piastri, who heads to Hungary for next Sunday's grand prix having won his first race in Budapest last season.
Norris added: "I'll review my things but still happy for the team, another 1-2 and our first 1-2 here for many, many years."
The race had been red-flagged after an initial formation lap due to standing water and heavy spray affecting visibility.
That resulted in a delay of an hour and 20 minutes as officials waited for conditions at the notoriously weather-prone circuit to improve.
Charles Leclerc was a distant third for Ferrari as dominant champions McLaren celebrated their sixth one-two finish in 13 races and the third in a row.
Titleholder Max Verstappen, in his first full race under a new Red Bull chief following the departure of Christian Horner, finished fourth.
George Russell, of Mercedes, who crossed the line first in Spa last year but was disqualified due to his car being underweight, was fifth this time and Williams' Alex Albon came home sixth.
With agencies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
I couldn't imagine living in such an eerie area. But my suburb is difficult to leave
Imagine, if you will, a hand of God, in addition to assisting Maradona to win the World Cup for Argentina in 1986, coming down from heaven and scooping up a swathe of humanity from the Asian subcontinent in a north-westerly direction over Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and then a final quick dip in far-Western Europe. Picture that hand scattering these people in one of the fastest-growing residential growth corridors in Australia and you will perhaps grasp something of what Craigieburn is about: this enigmatic suburb you either take a quick rubberneck glance at on your way to Canberra or Sydney, or whose existence you maybe consider as you board a train upon the Craigieburn line and wonder what poor souls have to ride this route all the way to the end. Previously a land of sweeping plains, farms, and sheep runs, Craigieburn has evolved over the decades to become the suburban love child of Metricon and Lendlease. It embodies aspiration. The median house price is $650,000, and is where anyone and everyone can get their first taste of the great Australian dream. There is a distinct old and new Craigieburn: the former features classic brick-veneer homely residences, while the latter includes an impressive array of rendered and modernist mansions that wouldn't look out of place in Toorak. In 2010, I was living in Moonee Ponds and serving as an honorary chaplain to the Coburg Tigers VFL Club. Highgate Reserve in the less-developed northern region of Craigieburn, with its 'MCG-sized oval' was a second home ground to the Tigers. The team travelled up here to play Gold Coast during that quasi-internship season they spent in the VFL. The ground was packed, primarily as NRL code-hopper Karmichael Hunt was pulling on the boots for the first time. Gold Coast were thrashed, and Coburg took in the gate earnings that day, so everyone was happy. I mention this anecdote, as a central arterial road, Grand Boulevard, literally came to a gravelly stop next to the oval; there were no shops, few homes, no roundabouts, and I simply couldn't imagine living in such an eerie place. Fast forward to 2014, however, when I moved up here to take up a post at the local Anglican school for almost a decade: a young, low-fee, rapidly expanding educational centre that now boasts three connected campuses. The Melbourne Anglican Diocese purchased a historic sea-captain's homestead and acreage that featured in the 1983 film Phar Lap with Tom Burlinson. Incidentally, my office was also originally located in the archaic coach house where the Toecutter gang tried to abduct Mel Gibson's son in the first Mad Max film, but that is another story ... We moved to a newer housing area called Highlands, which features a very agreeable man-made lake and a Saturday morning Parkrun around it. I decided that I probably lived in one of Australia's most multicultural streets. In order, my neighbours were: Pakistani Muslims, Iraqi Christians, Turkish Alevis, Turkish Sunnis, Afghani Hazaras, Chaldean Catholics, Indian Sikhs, Punjabis and Hmongs, with a smattering of Anglos, Filipinos and Pacific Islanders in the multiethnic mix. Craigieburn is part of the gargantuan 3064 postcode. Its population of over 65,000 in 2021 made it Australia's second-largest suburb, after Point Cook. We are so big, in fact, that in 2020, we were declared special enough to have our own tailored lockdown. These were indeed dark days for many of the multi-generational abodes in the area, and the cutely named exercise of 'remote learning' was somewhat strained in an area where two-thirds of residents speak a language other than English at home.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Bowls marks 180 years, ramps up Brisbane 2032 pitch
It started out the back of a hotel in 1845 and has since grown into a sport played by 2 million people at 1800 clubs across Australia. Hobart's Sandy Bay Bowls Club held a celebration on Monday to mark 180 years since the first recorded game in Australia. That match took place a few kilometres up the road at the then-named Beach Tavern between English immigrant and father-of-19 Frederick Lipscombe and T Burgess. 'We know it was 25 ends, which started the tradition of 25 ends in Australia,' Bowls Australia president Iain Evans said. 'Mr Burgess won on the very last end. It was a very close game.' The sport, which has become intertwined with Australian culture and more recently, allowed players to forgo footwear, spread its wings to Sydney and Melbourne in the following decades. The Hobart event featured a barbecue, tea and coffee and sandwiches, while young and old got to have a crack on the green. Bowls Australia used the anniversary to ramp up its push for the sport's inclusion in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
The Age
4 hours ago
- The Age
I couldn't imagine living in such an eerie area. But my suburb is difficult to leave
Imagine, if you will, a hand of God, in addition to assisting Maradona to win the World Cup for Argentina in 1986, coming down from heaven and scooping up a swathe of humanity from the Asian subcontinent in a north-westerly direction over Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and then a final quick dip in far-Western Europe. Picture that hand scattering these people in one of the fastest-growing residential growth corridors in Australia and you will perhaps grasp something of what Craigieburn is about: this enigmatic suburb you either take a quick rubberneck glance at on your way to Canberra or Sydney, or whose existence you maybe consider as you board a train upon the Craigieburn line and wonder what poor souls have to ride this route all the way to the end. Previously a land of sweeping plains, farms, and sheep runs, Craigieburn has evolved over the decades to become the suburban love child of Metricon and Lendlease. It embodies aspiration. The median house price is $650,000, and is where anyone and everyone can get their first taste of the great Australian dream. There is a distinct old and new Craigieburn: the former features classic brick-veneer homely residences, while the latter includes an impressive array of rendered and modernist mansions that wouldn't look out of place in Toorak. In 2010, I was living in Moonee Ponds and serving as an honorary chaplain to the Coburg Tigers VFL Club. Highgate Reserve in the less-developed northern region of Craigieburn, with its 'MCG-sized oval' was a second home ground to the Tigers. The team travelled up here to play Gold Coast during that quasi-internship season they spent in the VFL. The ground was packed, primarily as NRL code-hopper Karmichael Hunt was pulling on the boots for the first time. Gold Coast were thrashed, and Coburg took in the gate earnings that day, so everyone was happy. I mention this anecdote, as a central arterial road, Grand Boulevard, literally came to a gravelly stop next to the oval; there were no shops, few homes, no roundabouts, and I simply couldn't imagine living in such an eerie place. Fast forward to 2014, however, when I moved up here to take up a post at the local Anglican school for almost a decade: a young, low-fee, rapidly expanding educational centre that now boasts three connected campuses. The Melbourne Anglican Diocese purchased a historic sea-captain's homestead and acreage that featured in the 1983 film Phar Lap with Tom Burlinson. Incidentally, my office was also originally located in the archaic coach house where the Toecutter gang tried to abduct Mel Gibson's son in the first Mad Max film, but that is another story ... We moved to a newer housing area called Highlands, which features a very agreeable man-made lake and a Saturday morning Parkrun around it. I decided that I probably lived in one of Australia's most multicultural streets. In order, my neighbours were: Pakistani Muslims, Iraqi Christians, Turkish Alevis, Turkish Sunnis, Afghani Hazaras, Chaldean Catholics, Indian Sikhs, Punjabis and Hmongs, with a smattering of Anglos, Filipinos and Pacific Islanders in the multiethnic mix. Craigieburn is part of the gargantuan 3064 postcode. Its population of over 65,000 in 2021 made it Australia's second-largest suburb, after Point Cook. We are so big, in fact, that in 2020, we were declared special enough to have our own tailored lockdown. These were indeed dark days for many of the multi-generational abodes in the area, and the cutely named exercise of 'remote learning' was somewhat strained in an area where two-thirds of residents speak a language other than English at home.
