At the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, Max Verstappen claimed victory in the sprint race, overtaking Oscar Piastri at the first corner and maintaining the lead through the 15 laps. The McLaren driver, who started from pole, settled for second place, with teammate Lando Norris finishing third. This win adds another sprint triumph to Verstappen’s record, bringing his total to 12 since the format was introduced. Meanwhile, Red Bull heads into this weekend without their longtime team boss Christian Horner, recently replaced by Laurent Mekies.
Despite Verstappen’s win, McLaren continues to lead the constructors’ standings, thanks to their strong finishes in second and third. Red Bull gained ground on Ferrari and Mercedes, while Haas made notable progress in the midfield battle. The drivers’ standings remain tightly contested between Piastri and Norris, separated by only nine points, with Verstappen trailing further behind. Esteban Ocon, Oliver Bearman, and Isack Hadjar all scored valuable points, reflecting ongoing shifts in the championship race.
Verstappen competed without his usual race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, who missed the event due to personal reasons, with Simon Rennie stepping in. Despite the change, Verstappen delivered a commanding performance. McLaren’s Piastri and Norris remained reflective post-race, with both noting the difficulty of overtaking and the need to adjust strategy for Sunday’s main event. Piastri particularly emphasized how tough it was to follow closely on this circuit, dampening hopes of reclaiming the lead.
Ferrari’s drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, were less upbeat about their prospects for the rest of the weekend. Leclerc expressed skepticism about the team’s ability to compete with Red Bull or McLaren, while Hamilton was more hopeful for qualifying despite struggling in the sprint. He noted the challenge of racing in a DRS train, which limited overtaking opportunities and hindered progress from his starting position.
Finally, the provisional sprint result placed Verstappen, Piastri, and Norris on the podium, with Leclerc, Ocon, Sainz, Bearman, and Hadjar rounding out the points. Williams earned a notable result through Sainz, while Haas enjoyed a double-points finish. With rain possibly affecting the upcoming grand prix, the teams will need to stay agile. Verstappen’s early move and flawless defense solidified his win, demonstrating once again his dominance in sprint formats, even amid internal changes at Red Bull.
About the Author
