Max Verstappen dominated the Belgian Grand Prix Sprint at Spa-Francorchamps, charging from pole to secure a commanding victory for Red Bull. The Dutch driver pulled away early, building a gap that left the field scrambling in his mirrors.
Oscar Piastri pushed hard for McLaren, starting strong but settling for second after a brief tussle with teammate Lando Norris, who rounded out the podium in third. The pair’s intra-team battle added sparks, with Norris attempting an overtake on lap five that Piastri fended off cleanly.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc held fourth, fending off challenges from new teammate Lewis Hamilton, who climbed to fifth from a midfield start. Hamilton’s late surge highlighted Ferrari’s pace, though he couldn’t bridge the gap to Leclerc.
Mercedes duo George Russell and Kimi Antonelli finished sixth and seventh, with Russell expressing frustration over tyre wear in the post-race chat. Williams’ Carlos Sainz grabbed the final point in eighth, edging out Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
The session saw no major incidents, but rain threats loomed, keeping strategies sharp. Verstappen’s win tightens his grip on the championship lead, setting up an intense qualifying for Sunday’s main race.
