Max Verstappen has won the sprint ahead of Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix. After qualifying second, a daunting four-tenths of a second off polesitter Oscar Piastri, the reigning world champion seized the lead with a well-timed pass down the Kemmel Straight on the opening lap.
Piastri however, was quick to make his presence felt and stayed within DRS range for the duration of the race. His teammate Lando Norris suffered yet another poor start and spent the first three laps trying to pass Charles Leclerc. After getting past the Ferrari, Norris closed upto Piastri and piled even more pressure on Verstappen. The Dutchman later admitted to having to produce 15 straight qualifying style laps in order to keep the lead, such was the pace advantage of the McLarens. Piastri’s best chance came on lap 11 as Verstappen, having almost escaped DRS range, ran wide out of the Bus Stop chicane and was left vulnerable down the Kemmel Straight. Piastri picked up the slipstream, only for Verstappen to move to the inside and cover him off.
Despite his frustration with Ferrari’s inferior pace, Leclerc held on to fourth ahead of Estaban Ocon, the Haas drivers’ solid performance in qualifying yielding four valuable points. Carlos Sainz came home sixth ahead of Ollie Bearman, and Isack Hadjar took the final sprint points-paying position in eighth.
Gabriel Bortoleto finished ninth ahead of Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda. Pierre Gasly was the sprint’s only retirement; the Alpine driver’s eighth place in qualifying was scuppered by a water leak, which allowed all those behind him to shuffle up a place.
With the exception of Verstappen’s lap one overtake and the ensuing game of cat and mouse between him and the McLarens, the sprint was largely void of any drama. After qualifying 13th, George Russell failed to make any gains on those in front of him and had to settle for 12th. Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso were also beneficiaries of Gasly’s retirement in 13th and 14th, respectively, with Stroll getting past his teammate.
After being relegated to 18th after a spin in SQ1, Lewis Hamilton was one of the few movers during the sprint race. The seven-time world champion was a beneficiary of Gasly’s misfortune, but also managed to get past the likes of Nico Hulkenberg and Alexander Albon for 15th. After spinning in SQ1 and qualifying last (eventually elevated to 19th by Franco Colapinto starting in the pitlane), Kimi Antonelli had to settle for 17th. Hulkenberg finished 18th with Colapinto the last classified finisher.
Verstappen may have beaten the McLarens in the sprint, but given the performance he had to pull off in order to secure this win and the constructors’ champions’ clear pace advantage, it's safe to say Norris and Piastri have the car of choice for both qualifying and the grand prix itself.
