On Saturday, July 26, Max Verstappen secured the Formula 1 sprint win at the Belgian Grand Prix by executing a decisive slipstream pass on Oscar Piastri during the opening lap. Verstappen maintained his lead for the duration of the race, with Piastri finishing closely behind in second place. Lando Norris took third, followed by Charles Leclerc in fourth.
Key Moments and Strategies in the Sprint Race
Oscar Piastri started on pole after a dominant sprint qualifying session on Friday, where he clocked a time nearly half a second faster than Verstappen and Norris, who began second and third respectively. Verstappen’s Red Bull was set up with lower downforce relative to the McLarens, providing an advantage on Spa Francorchamps’ lengthy straights.
This strategic setup allowed Verstappen to utilize the slipstream effectively, overtaking Piastri at the top of the first hill. Meanwhile, Leclerc gained a position by passing Norris, who dropped to fourth. Despite losing the lead early on, Piastri stayed within striking distance of Verstappen, sustaining pressure throughout the race.
By the fourth lap, Norris reclaimed third place from Leclerc atop the hill but still lagged more than two seconds behind teammate Piastri. Both McLaren drivers remained competitive, with Norris closing gaps and leveraging the Drag Reduction System (DRS) in the closing laps. However, Verstappen managed to fend off their advances and clinched first place.
Other Notable Performances in the Top Ten
Esteban Ocon finished fifth, narrowly ahead of Carlos Sainz in sixth. Oliver Bearman impressed with a strong seventh-place finish for Haas. The top ten was completed by Isack Hadjar, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Liam Lawson, who all demonstrated solid racecraft in Belgium.
Implications of Verstappen’s Sprint Win and Upcoming Race Prospects
Saturday’s sprint represents Verstappen’s first race success since Christian Horner left the Red Bull team, marking a key moment for both driver and team morale. This victory also offers Verstappen a strategic advantage heading into the main Grand Prix, which is set to start on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. ET with ESPN coverage.
Weather forecasts suggest rain could influence the main race, adding further unpredictability to Sunday’s event at Spa Francorchamps. With the sprint results shaping the starting grid, all eyes will be on Verstappen and his rivals as the competition for the championship intensifies.
Verstappen Reflects on His Winning Opportunity
Verstappen shared his thoughts after the race in an interview, emphasizing the importance of capitalizing on every chance against his closest competitors.
“That’s the only opportunity we’re going to get against them, and we took it. For us, it was a great result to keep them behind. I’m very happy with what we did.”
—Max Verstappen, Driver
