Sprint Race (Spa, 14 laps) – Saturday Morning

• Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 36:37.647

• 2nd: Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.753 s

• 3rd: Lando Norris (McLaren) – +1.414 s

• 4th: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +10.176 s

• Other points: Esteban Ocon (Haas), Carlos Sainz (Williams), Oliver Bearman (Haas), Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) 

Analysis

• Verstappen overtook Piastri at Les Combes on the opening lap and executed a masterclass in defence, resisting heavy pressure throughout.

• Piastri remained in DRS range but lacked straight-line speed to pass; Norris also shadowed them but couldn’t challenge for the lead.

• Mercedes and Ferrari struggled: Russell P12, Hamilton P15, Antonelli P17—pointing to setup issues and pace imbalance.

Qualifying (Sprint Qualifying sets main race grid)

• Pole Position: Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:40.562

• P2: Oscar Piastri – +0.085 s

• P3: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.338 s

• P4: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.341 s

• P5–10: Alex Albon (Williams), George Russell (Mercedes), Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull), Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls), Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)

Key Moments

• Hamilton was eliminated in Q1, his best lap deleted for exceeding track limits at Eau Rouge—he'll start 16th on the grid.

• Norris delivered McLaren’s 68th front-row lockout, the team’s first Belgian GP pole since Button in 2012.

• Verstappen qualified P4, hampered by grip concerns despite sprint race superiority. Leclerc delivered a strong performance securing P3.

Strategic & Competitive Insights

• McLaren Momentum: Norris and Piastri were again top of the timesheets, showcasing formidable one-lap and race pace. Spa layout suits their aerodynamic strengths. Norris narrowly edged his teammate, spotlighting internal rivalry.

• Red Bull Redemption but Limitation: Verstappen’s sprint win under Mekies’ leadership was timely, but their qualifying deficit hints at straight-line weaknesses compared to McLaren.

• Ferrari’s Double-Edged Weekend: Leclerc’s P4 in the sprint and P3 on grid showcase competitiveness. In contrast, Hamilton’s struggles underline Ferrari’s setup fragility in transitional track conditions.

• Midfield Advances: Alex Albon (P5) and George Russell (P6) excelled relative to their teammates. Yuki Tsunoda earned his best Red Bull qualifying so far (P7), while Racing Bulls drivers Hadjar, Lawson, and Bortoleto continue strong performances.

• Aston Martin Implosion: Alonso qualified P19 and struggled through the sprint and Q1—revealing ongoing balance and aero issues at the high-speed Ardennes track.

Summary Table

What’s Next

• Sunday’s race: Grid set—Norris on pole, Piastri second, Leclerc third. Will Red Bull’s race trim and straight-line speed close the gap?

• Weather Impact: Rain is forecasted—could level the field and disrupt McLaren’s advantage.

• Championship Ramifications: Piastri leads Norris by nine points post-sprint; they remain focal in the title fight heading into Round 13.