Verstappen Wins Belgian GP Sprint, First Red Bull Victory Post-Horner

Max Verstappen won the sprint race at the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix, marking the first Red Bull victory since the dismissal of team principal Christian Horner and the start of Laurent Mekies' leadership. Starting second behind Oscar Piastri, Verstappen overtook the McLaren driver on the opening lap at Les Combes using a low-downforce rear wing setup that maximized straight-line speed. Despite Piastri's persistent pressure and attempts to leverage his superior pace through twisty sectors, Verstappen held on to claim his 12th sprint win, extending his record in the format. Lando Norris finished third after briefly losing and regaining the position from Charles Leclerc, while Piastri increased his championship lead over Norris to nine points. The Red Bull team's strategic gamble on setup showed promise in the sprint, though changing weather conditions forecasted for the main race could challenge their approach. Mercedes struggled, failing to score points and losing ground to Ferrari, as Lewis Hamilton finished 15th and George Russell missed the top-10 shootout in qualifying.