We spend so long waiting for and building up to the start of the season, and then it all flies by in a flash. The last five months have been a blur, but believe it or not, we’re now into the summer break and just 10 races of the 2023 Formula 1 season remain.

But before we do any looking ahead to those, it’s time to look back on our most recent adventure in Spa-Francorchamps, which proved to be an unforgiving but fruitful final chapter of Act I, with enough highs and lows – and rain - to span several grands prix, let alone one.

We came away with another trophy to add to the McLaren Technology Centre cabinet – Oscar’s first in F1 - and some more points to add to our championship tally, courtesy of a heroic drive from Lando on Sunday. As always, you created plenty of noise on social media, here’s what you made of the Belgian Grand Prix... 

Thanks, @arcueilcachan, we’re all KENough.

@OscarPiastri we have your back from Eau Rouge! 🥰 #FansLikeNoOther #Barbie #BelgianGP #viaF1 pic.twitter.com/G95OAb7zZW

— Agata (@arcueilcachan) July 28, 2023

F1 driver, The Office impersonator, weatherman: which Oscar variant will we unlock next?

Oscar is doing a side quest as a weatherman 😂

— ɐʞıuoɹǝʍ (@rubloronika) July 27, 2023

Thanks, but no thanks Nico... We'll pass for now.

haha…heading to your factory for a selfie 🤳

— Nico Rosberg (@NicoRosberg) July 28, 2023

This video split opinion... Are you #TeamOscar or #TeamLando on this subject?

We are with Oscar on this. Lando these are my McLaren thongs by Gandy on Bondi beach. Couldn’t get anymore Aussie than that. 👏😂 #FansLikeNoOther #McLaren pic.twitter.com/SdRHVSInJw

— Clairebear (@minimadclaire) July 29, 2023

Petition for workplaces to provide McLaren fans with mandatory F1 breaks so that they can watch all of the sessions.

Supporting anytime, even at work!🧡💪✨️ @McLarenF1 #FansLikeNoOther #LN4 #BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/lKfSoyvwxJ

— Aysel (@aysmilez) July 30, 2023

Own up, who forgot Uno?

Storytime with Lando

— J (@LowkeyNorris) July 29, 2023

Oscar Piastri, sir, you had no right.

What a lap for for Oscar! He has been an amazing signing for McLaren and his showing McLaren made the right decision to sign him off alpine!

— Jake Coare (@JakeCoare14) July 29, 2023

P2 OSCARRRRRRRRR LET'S GOOOOOOOO. Good work @McLarenF1 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡#f1sprint #BelgianGP #FansLikeNoOther

— Nikki 🧡 (@life_of_niksi) July 29, 2023

This melted our little papaya hearts.

This is so wholesome! Great performance from Oscar 🧡

— tfmpillow (@tfmpillow) July 29, 2023

We think it might have been raining? We always say that come rain, wind or shine, the Papaya Army is there for us, but Spa-Francorchamps really decided to put this to the test. 

I would say that it's wet pic.twitter.com/vVUG58C5mX

— Amélie ☆ at 🇧🇪 GP (@Amlie1Amelie) July 29, 2023

No, you don’t need to wipe your eyes, that is F1 rookie Oscar Piastri leading the F1 Sprint.

Things we love to see! GO @OscarPiastri! 💪🏻 #FansLikeNoOther #BelgianGP #McLaren60 #OP81 pic.twitter.com/jLW6CWLhuJ

— Simon Brooks (@SimonGBrooks) July 29, 2023

He may have fallen back behind Max Verstappen, but what a performance from Oscar to finish the Sprint in second.

A day I won’t forget ✌️🧡 pic.twitter.com/sVzbJdEQ0z

— Oscar Piastri (@OscarPiastri) July 29, 2023

Crying this is so cuteeee

— Nouf🏎️⚽️ (@deluluf1) July 29, 2023

Oscar's dad, Chris Piastri is the guest star we never knew we needed.

Proud Dad moment. 🥰 @OscarPiastri#BelgianGP 🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/OmjGVK6aNN

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) July 29, 2023

The dad's (and Lando's mum) behind the @McLarenF1 boys. I love this picture by Adam Norris 🧡🧡 this team is so much a family and this just shows in everything they do. #TeamLikeNoOther #FansLikeNoOther pic.twitter.com/R7KceV2Coo

— Zoejj433 (@zoejj73) July 30, 2023

Race day ready, thanks for your support, Papaya Army.

it’s race day! The last one before the summer break, let’s score some good points!🧡 @McLarenF1 #FansLikeNoOther pic.twitter.com/85T7GLOshN

— sanne (@sanne__4) July 30, 2023

We got u at the track🧡😉 pic.twitter.com/J4Vu8U813N

— Lando Norris Fans (@Norrislandofans) July 30, 2023

Day 3, we are ready! 🏁

Let’s go team! @McLarenF1 🧡#FansLikeNoOther #SendIt #BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/2SuBZKBNrC

— Celine (@celineeebr) July 30, 2023

After such a successful Saturday, Oscar suffered an absolutely gutting start to Sunday's Grand Prix. 

@OscarPiastri deserved so much more after his mega lap in qualifying, he’ll be itching to get back in the car after the summer break

— Chris Cave (@cconmotorsport) July 30, 2023

But there was still all to play for on the other side of the garage. Lando had dropped down to P19 after a pit-stop but began fighting his back way through the field.

lando into the points PLEASE!!! HE CAN DO IT!!

— evan bowie 🏎️ (@evanbowiem) July 30, 2023

I hope those tires can last 14 laps more on the soft 🙏🏽

— Devz (@2kDevz) July 30, 2023

Seventh at the flag and a performance to be proud of.

ooooooooo yeasssssss

— Lando Norris (@LandoNorris) July 30, 2023

@McLarenF1 @LandoNorris great recovery by Lando,cool as a cucumber congrats and more points to the pot! #SendIt #FansLikeNoOther 👏🏻

— Nikki🏁 (@Ni_kki__) July 30, 2023

Lando has done a masterful job of holding on to the soft tires. #FansLikeNoOther @McLarenF1

— Jeff Kirk (@JeffreyNKirk) July 30, 2023

Just the 26 laps on Soft tyres... That is sensational. 

They actually look really good considering he did 26 laps on them😮

— ✨Chris✨ (@chris2007_x) July 30, 2023

Time for a well-earned rest! Whilst we may not enjoy having to spend several weeks away from a race track and the MTC, we certainly need it. As do you, we imagine – it’s been a rollercoaster first half of the season.

Rest up, Papaya Army, we’ll need you fighting fit for the second half of the year.

what a comeback from lando! that was incredible, if nerve racking to watch. such a shame for Oscar’s incredible weekend to end like this but overall we can be happy going into the summer break. enjoy the time off team, there’s more to come! 🧡💪

— jamesh (@jameshify) July 30, 2023

Well done team ! Tough race but you did your best, and we’re back to MTC with good points. Thank you for your hard work. I’m sure we will be back with more pace after the summer break. @McLarenF1 #FansLikeNoOther #mclaren60 #foreverforward

— Tony HANKIN (@OneEyesOfRacing) July 30, 2023

All things considered that was a great drive from @LandoNorris to finish 7th today 🎉 Commiserations to @OscarPiastri. Your time will come.
Hope the team has a good break now, ready to go again in a few weeks 🧡🧡🧡#FansLikeNoOther #BelgianGP

— JenGo 🧡 #BelieveInMcLaren (@Jengo37) July 30, 2023