Verstappen Wins Belgian GP Sprint Amid Red Bull Changes

Max Verstappen won the Belgian Grand Prix sprint race, giving Red Bull its first win under new team principal Laurent Mekies following the ousting of Christian Horner. Verstappen overtook Oscar Piastri on the opening lap and held off both McLaren drivers, finishing just 1.4 seconds ahead of third place after 15 laps. He earned eight championship points for the victory but remains 68 points behind in the standings, while Piastri extended his lead over Lando Norris to nine points. Mekies praised Verstappen’s performance and the team's smooth transition amid the leadership change. Lando Norris secured pole for Sunday’s main race, with Piastri joining him on the front row and Verstappen starting fourth. Forecasted rain could bring added unpredictability to the main event at Spa-Francorchamps.