Oscar Piastri equals Mark Webber's F1® Wins

The race was a rollercoaster of drama and strategy, culminating in heartbreak for his McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, who was forced to retire from second place just a few laps from the finish.

Piastri, starting from pole position, made a confident start, holding the lead from the outset. While Red Bull’s Max Verstappen initially managed to get past Norris for P2, the British driver quickly reclaimed his position, setting the stage for a McLaren 1-2. The young Australian, a product of Melbourne's karting scene, looked assured at the front, building a comfortable lead as his rivals battled behind him.

The race was anything but straightforward, with two Safety Cars and a late-race retirement completely changing the complexion of the event. The first Safety Car was deployed on Lap 23 after Lewis Hamilton crashed out, prompting a flurry of pit stops. McLaren’s double-stack strategy was executed smoothly, with both Piastri and Norris holding their positions. While Norris had a slight delay, the team’s rapid work ensured their cars remained at the top of the order.

The race settled back into a rhythm, with Norris continuing his chase of Piastri. However, the dramatic climax unfolded in the final laps. Smoke began to emerge from the back of Norris’s McLaren, forcing him to pull over at the side of the track. The retirement was a crushing blow for the Briton and a "potentially seismic moment in the championship battle," as the official Formula 1® report described. It also triggered a final Safety Car period, which allowed Piastri to cruise to victory ahead of Verstappen and secure his seventh Grand Prix win of the season.

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Behind Piastri’s dominant performance, the podium saw a remarkable result for rookie Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls, who converted an impressive P4 on the grid into a maiden F1® podium finish. George Russell took fourth for Mercedes, while Williams’ Alex Albon climbed from P15 to fifth, showcasing a superb drive.

Haas’s Ollie Bearman, who started from the pit lane, made a one-stop strategy work to cross the line in sixth, a career-best finish for the young driver. Aston Martin secured a double points haul with Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso finishing in seventh and eighth, respectively. Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda and Haas’s Esteban Ocon rounded out the top 10.

The race was littered with other notable incidents. Carlos Sainz received a 10-second penalty for a collision with Liam Lawson, and an altercation between Charles Leclerc and Russell was investigated after the race. The stewards were kept busy, with Leclerc and Norris ultimately joining Hamilton as the three high-profile retirees from the race. Ferrari's failure to score points meant Mercedes is now just 12 points away from the Scuderia in the battle for second place in the Constructors’ Championship.

Piastri now holds a 34-point lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship. His controlled performance, even with the race’s many interruptions, demonstrated the maturity and skill that have defined his season.

Speaking after the race, Piastri reflected on the win and the challenging conditions. “It feels good obviously,” he said. “I feel like it's a pretty hard act to follow Isack standing up here so I'll try my best. I controlled the race when I needed to and obviously incredibly unfortunate for Lando at the end, but I felt like I was in control of that one and just used the pace when I needed to. It was a bit of a different race to 12 months ago, so [I'm] very happy with all the work we've done to try and improve around here. Very satisfied to come out on top."

The Formula 1® circus now heads directly to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, where Piastri will look to further extend his championship lead and add to his already impressive win tally.