SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium — Formula One champion Max Verstappen won a "cat and mouse" Belgian Grand Prix sprint on Saturday in Red Bull's first race under the leadership of Laurent Mekies following Christian Horner's dismissal.

Max Verstappen has conquered the sprint race at Formula 1's Belgian Grand Prix to start Red Bull's new era with a win. On the first lap of the 15-lap contest, Verstappen used his Red Bull's superior top speed to draft past polesitter Oscar Piastri at Les Combes, much like the championship leader had feared before the start.

McLaren's Lando Norris starts on pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix as he seeks to keep his winning run going and boost his Formula 1 title chances against teammate Oscar Piastri.

Max Verstappen claimed his 12th career sprint victory, and his second at Spa after also triumphing there in 2023. The Dutchman's win was his first in five sprints since the 2024 United States Grand Prix,

As Max Verstappen slips to fourth place in qualifying, Red Bull says it has upped its downforce levels anticipating a wet Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has pointed out where his Belgian Grand Prix qualifying lap went wrong, with a Sunday prediction made.

However, the Dutchman failed to take the momentum into qualifying for Sunday's Grand Prix race as he only managed to put his Red Bull fourth, behind Charles Leclerc, Piastri and Norris. It has to be said that Verstappen 's car underwent a set-up change during the break between the sprint and the Grand Prix qualifying.