Formula 1: Verstappen edges McLaren in thrilling Belgian Sprint battle
Max Verstappen came out on top in the opening clash of the weekend at the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix, fending off intense pressure from Oscar Piastri and McLaren in Saturday’s F1 Sprint at Spa-Francorchamps.
The reigning World Champion wasted no time after lights out, overtaking pole-sitter Piastri on the very first lap. From there, Verstappen put on a masterclass in race control, never giving his rival a genuine opportunity to strike back.
Lando Norris rounded out the podium in third. Despite a poor getaway, the McLaren driver recovered well to secure a crucial top-three finish in the sprint format.
Further down the field, the top 10 remained largely unchanged from qualifying. It was a frustrating day for Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton, who failed to break into the points-paying positions.
Belgian Grand Prix – Sprint Race Results (Top 10)
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
3. Lando Norris (McLaren)
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
5. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
6. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
7. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
8. Isack Hadjar (RB)
9. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
10. Liam Lawson (RB)
