5 BOLD Predictions for the F1 Belgian Grand Prix

After what seemed like an eternal layoff, round 13 of the 2025 Formula One season is officially here. With half the season come and gone, it is around this time when things start to really heat up and get interesting! Plus, rain is on the forecast for the Main Race on Sunday, and we all know what rain can do, especially this season.

This 7.004km (4.35mi) track in Belgium is the longest on the calendar, with some of the longest straights and fastest corners the sport has to offer. 44 laps will be driven on Sunday, with 15 laps driven during the Sprint.

Oscar Piastri topped the Sprint qualifying this weekend, setting a track record lap of one minute, 40.51 seconds. However, it was Max Verstappen who secured the win after a brilliant overtake on Piastri early.

Qualifying for the Grand Prix was also chaotic, with multiple drivers on top teams being eliminated early in both qualifying sessions. Here is a look at the starting grid for Sunday's race as of 7:40 am EST on Saturday:

1. Lando Norris

2. Oscar Piastri

3. Charles Leclerc

4. Max Verstappen

5. Alex Albon

6. George Russell

7. Yuki Tsunoda

8. Isak Hadjar

9. Liam Lawson

10. Gabriel Bortoleto

11. Esteban Ocon

12. Oliver Bearman

13. Pierre Gasly

14. Nico Hulkenberg

15. Franco Colapinto

16. Lance Stroll

17. Carlos Sainz (Pit Lane Start)

18. Lewis Hamilton (Pit Lane Start)

19. Kimi Antonelli (Pit Lane Start)

20. Fernando Alonso (Pit Lane Start)

    
    

Now, before we get into my preditions, a few reminders:

Formula One has two main championship competitions. The first of the two Championships is the Drivers' Championship, which is a competition based on the drivers' individual performance. On a non-Sprint style weekend, the drivers who finish in the top 10 in each race will score points (the higher you place, the more points you get). These points are added up, and whichever driver finishes with the most points at the end of the season will win the Drivers' Championship.

The next is the Constructors' Championship, a competition between the teams. The number of points the drivers within a team get each race is combined, creating the total points for the team (e.g., Lando Norris has scored 232 points and Oscar Piastri has scored 241 points, giving the McLaren team 473 points in the Constructors' Championship). The team whose drivers accumulate the most points combined for their team will win the Constructors' Championship.

This weekend's race is also a Sprint-style format. A Sprint race is a race with fewer laps that gives the drivers an opportunity to score some extra points. It is meant to not only help the drivers, but also give the fans more racing action. Instead of the normal weekend format (three practice sessions, qualifying, and the race), a sprint weekend format is a little different. There will be only one practice session, and two qualifying sessions (one for the sprint race and one for the main race). The sprint race occurs between the sprint qualifying session and the main race qualifying session.

Also, 21 drivers will be listed within the Drivers' Championship Standings, as Franco Colapinto replaced Jack Doohan at Alpine.

Here is a look at the standings for both Championships:

Drivers' Championship Standings:

1. Oscar Piastri 241 points

2. Lando Norris 232 points

3. Max Verstappen 173 points

4. George Russell 147 points

5. Charles Leclerc 124 points

6. Lewis Hamilton 103 points

7. Andrea Kimi Antonelli 63 points

8. Alexander Albon 46 points

9. Nico Hulkenberg 37 points

10. Esteban Ocon 27 points

11. Isak Hadjar 22 points

12. Lance Stroll 20 points

13. Pierre Gasly 19 points

14. Fernando Alonso 16 points

15. Carlos Sainz 16 points

16. Liam Lawson 12 points

17. Yuki Tsunoda 10 points

18. Oliver Bearman 8 points

19. Gabriel Bortoleto 4 points

20. Franco Colapinto 0 points

21. Jack Doohan 0 points

Constructors' Championship Standings:

1. McLaren 473 points

2. Ferrari 227 points

3. Mercedes 210 points

4. Red Bull 180 points

5. Williams 62 points

6. Kick Sauber 41 points

7. VCARB 37 points

8. Aston Martin 36 points

9. Haas 35 points

10. Alpine 19 points

    
    

Standings were found at F1.com. 

Yuki Tsunoda Will Secure His Best Finish With Red Bull

With his car now equal to his teammate's in terms of upgrades, Yuki Tsunoda has already secured his best qualifying result as a Red Bull driver, as he will start 7th for Sunday's race. After qualifying 12th and finishing 11th for the Sprint, Yuki has looked solid so far this weekend, but elevated when it mattered in Grand Prix qualifying.

We have not seen Tsunoda drive this confidently since joining Red Bull, which makes me believe he could secure solid points in Belgium and finish higher than he ever has with Red Bull. He will have some stiff competition behind him and shaky weather to worry about, but if Yuki can keep things clean (which is a BIG if for him), I think he can get the job done on Sunday.

Both Drivers at Haas AND RB Will Score Points

All four drivers (Haas' Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon, and RB's Isak Hadjar and Liam Lawson) at Haas and RB have looked quick, but more importantly, consistent this weekend. All four qualified either in or just outside the top ten in both qualifying sessions, while also finishing in the top ten in the Sprint. Though only the top eight drivers score points in the Sprint, it was still an impressive feat for both teams.

With that said, if they already did it once, why not again? With rain bound to cause some chaos, I think it is a real possibility that both RB and Haas' race pace can help them climb up enough positions to finish in the points. Not only that, but if you consider the fact that both Gabriel Bortoleto (who is starting 10th) and Alex Albon (who is starting 5th) have not been great in wet conditions this season, the possibility of this prediction coming true becomes all the more realistic.

Yes, it is bold for sure, but both RB and Haas have shown me enough this weekend that their pace is there and can truly compete among the top teams.

A Red Flag Will Shake Everything Up

Red Flags have been prone to fly around in Belgium, especially in wet conditions. With multiple corners taken at full speed, and the straights being as long as they are, the margin for error is slim when it's wet.

If rain comes like the forecast says it will, I think there is a high possibility a driver or two push a little too hard and cause a red flag. Another thing to consider is that multiple rookies have not driven this track before this weekend, which could be their downfall on Sunday.

Overall, I think that the wet conditions will prove to be too much for at least one driver and cause a red flag that will shake up the pecking order during the race. With the grid looking like it does, it seems inevitable that something is bound to happen.

Both Aston Martin Drivers Will Get Lapped by at Least Two Cars

Aston Martin has looked horrendous this weekend thus far. Neither Fernando Alonso nor Lance Stroll has been close to competing in the midfield, while the car looks as slow as it has all season long.

This could absolutely be a one-off weekend for Aston Martin and a matter of the car not suiting the track. Yet, I don't see Aston Martin making up any ground, but rather being lapped at least once by multiple cars.

Oscar Piastri Will Win the Belgian Grand Prix

Oscar Piastri was just 85 thousandths of a second off securing his 2nd pole position of the weekend. He has been rapid all weekend long and has shown no sign of true weakness around Belgium. Yes, he did fumble the Sprint win; however, that was more of a Verstappen masterclass than anything.

Piastri has also been elite in wet conditions this year. Besides that mistake in Australia, he has made few to no mistakes otherwise in wet or dry conditions. I think that this, along with his comfort around the track, will allow him to beat his teammate Lando Norris and win the Belgian Grand Prix.

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Until next time!

-Matt Hylen