Max Verstappen secured victory in the sprint race at the Belgian Grand Prix with a determined and well-calculated drive, delivering a strong performance for Red Bull despite challenges.
After taking the lead on the opening lap, he held off the McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who finished second and third, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc came in fourth. His teammate Lewis Hamilton ended in 15th after starting 18th.
The 15-lap race saw little variation in positions, but Piastri’s second-place finish extended his lead over Norris in the championship standings from eight to nine points.
This result marked a positive start for Red Bull in their first race under new leadership, following recent changes in the team’s management.
The team had introduced updates for this event, including modifications to the front wing, and adjusted their setup to prioritize straight-line speed in an attempt to match McLaren’s pace. However, these changes did not translate into qualifying success, where Verstappen trailed Piastri by half a second.
Nevertheless, during the race, Verstappen seized his opportunity with precision. While the McLarens took time to build speed, he made an aggressive move to claim the lead. Although Piastri was faster through the technical second sector, he could not close the gap to overtake Verstappen, who maintained his position advantage.
This marks Verstappen’s 12th sprint race victory and his second in Belgium, solidifying his status as the most successful driver in this format.
Piastri initially led into the first corner, but Verstappen used the slipstream on the Kemmel Straight to pass him before Les Combes, benefiting from Red Bull’s aerodynamic setup optimized for speed.
Piastri pressured Verstappen, searching for an opening, but the Dutchman used his straight-line speed to stay just ahead in the early part of the lap. Despite Piastri’s efforts, Verstappen maintained a small but decisive gap.
The two drivers remained closely matched, with Piastri unable to find a way past as Verstappen executed near-flawless laps. Norris caught up to them midway through the race but also struggled to make progress.
On lap 11, Verstappen briefly ran wide at the Bus Stop chicane, allowing Piastri to close the gap. The Red Bull driver reported brake issues but managed to hold onto his lead, crossing the finish line first.
Further back, Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman took fifth and seventh for Haas, while Carlos Sainz was sixth for Williams and Isack Hadjar eighth for Racing Bulls.
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