P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Can Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris avoid trouble at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix?
McLaren have instructed their drivers to “minimise trouble” on the first lap of the Belgian Grand Prix following their front-row lockout. Lando Norris claimed pole position by a slim margin over teammate and title rival Oscar Piastri in a closely contested qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps. On the sprint race, Max Verstappen of Red Bull passed Piastri on the opening lap, taking advantage of Spa’s long straights conducive to overtaking opportunities. With both McLarens at the front, a lap one battle is expected, although team orders will not be imposed as the team expects clean racing from Norris and Piastri. McLaren’s team principal Andrea Stella emphasized the importance of minimizing trouble on lap one and staying focused on the larger race strategy, especially with the threat of wet weather looming over the Grand Prix. Norris, currently trailing Piastri by nine points in the championship, has been victorious in the two preceding races in Austria and Great Britain. Wet weather conditions have already disrupted events at Spa with heavy rain leading to the Formula 3 race being canceled after multiple red flags.
