<figure id="attachment_3119033" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3119033" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3119033" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/33dbf658-afp__20250726__67wq7b7__v1__highres__autoprixf1belsprint.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1067" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3119033" class="wp-caption-text">Red Bull Racing&#8217;s Dutch driver Max Verstappen scored his 12th career sprint win at the Belgian Grand Prix. (AFP pic)</figcaption></figure>
SPA FRANCORCHAMPS: Max Verstappen won the Belgian Grand Prix sprint race on Saturday to get Red Bull&#8217;s post Christian Horner-era off to a flying start.
The world champion beat McLaren pole-sitter Oscar Piastri on Laurent Mekies&#8217; first race weekend as team principal since replacing sacked Horner a fortnight ago.
Lando Norris in the other McLaren was third.
&#8220;It worked out really well, I knew it was going to be tough keeping them (the McLarens) behind,&#8221; said Verstappen.
&#8220;I couldnt afford to make any big mistakes. It&#8217;s a sprint win but it still counts,&#8221; added the Dutchman after his 12th career sprint win.
Piastri enjoyed a smooth getaway but Verstappen made his decisive pass down the Kemmel straight on the first of the 15-lap dash.
Piastri extended his lead in the drivers championship by one point to nine over Norris, with Verstappen 68 points adrift of the Australian
Qualifying for Sunday&#8217;s main race takes place later Saturday.

MatchPoint Times

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