Max Verstappen secured victory in the Sprint race at Spa-Francorchamps, marking a successful debut for his new team principal, Laurent Mekies. The Red Bull driver led throughout, outpacing the McLaren pair who ultimately completed the podium.
Oscar Piastri, starting from pole position, was unable to maintain his lead over Verstappen and settled for second place. Lando Norris followed closely in third.
The race unfolded with relative stability throughout the points-scoring positions. Most drivers retained their starting positions, demonstrating a cautious approach to the shortened event. The most significant movement came as Norris steadily gained on Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, ultimately overtaking him to claim third.
Further points were awarded to Esteban Ocon (Haas), Carlos Sainz (Williams), Oliver Bearman (Haas) and Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls). Pierre Gasly (Alpine) was sidelined due to a technical issue, while his teammate Franco Colapinto started from the pit lane after a rear wing change. German driver Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber) finished in 18th place.
The Sprint race was characterized by limited overtakes and a tense battle for the lead. Piastri attempted to pressure Verstappen throughout, but was unable to launch a decisive challenge. Minimal positional changes were observed in the midfield. Track conditions remained consistent, with no threat of rain and the majority of drivers opted for medium tires.
