WATCH: Speeding Oscar Piastri slams into a Jackman in pit lane

Oscar Piastri faced a challenging moment during the Belgian Grand Prix when his pit stop did not go as smoothly as planned. Piastri, driving with determination, approached his pit box with a bit too much speed, leading to an overextension that almost resulted in a collision with the front jackman.

This critical mistake caused a delay in his pit stop, clocking in at 4.4 seconds, which is slower than the usual quick stops teams aim for in such high-stakes races. Despite the setback, Piastri managed to rejoin the race in fourth place, crucially staying ahead of Max Verstappen.

Here is the video:

Piastri entra pasadísimo y se lleva por delante al mecánico. Pierde tiempo en el cambio de neumático#F1 #BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/hLy5L9vtgo

— El Formulero (@elformulerof1) July 28, 2024

This position was significant as it kept Oscar Piastri in a competitive spot amidst the race's top contenders. The top ten at this juncture of the race included Russell, Hamilton, Leclerc, Piastri, Verstappen, Norris, Perez, Sainz, Alonso, and Bottas.

George Russell dominates the Belgian Grand Prix!

As the race progressed, George Russell, leading the pack, opted for a bold strategy, deciding to go for a one-stop race. This gamble put him seven seconds ahead of his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, and set the stage for an intense battle. Hamilton, relentless in his pursuit, began cutting the gap, which was down to 5.4 seconds by Lap 33. Russell’s strategy required precise tyre management and consistent lap times to maintain his lead until the end.

Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc, who was in third place, found himself under pressure not only from Hamilton, who was closing in on Russell but also from Piastri. Piastri’s proximity to Leclerc added another layer of excitement to the race as he aimed to capitalize on any opportunity to move up the ranks. At Lap 35, the gap between Lewis Hamilton and Russell had narrowed to 5.2 seconds, with Leclerc 2.9 seconds behind Hamilton.