Verstappen Clinches 2025 Belgian Sprint Victory

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen survived a race-long battle to clinch victory at the 2025 Belgian Sprint. 

Verstappen snatched the lead into Les Combes on the opening lap with an outside move and fought off Oscar Piastri for the remainder of the race, which saw the Dutchman clinch only his third race win of the season after he won the Grands Prix at Japan and Imola.

The victory also marked Red Bull’s first win in their first race under the reins of Laurent Mekies after he replaced Christian Horner as Team Principal, just days after the British GP.

Lando Norris finished third after he initially lost the position to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc but repassed the Monegasque on lap four, as the pair subsequently finished in their initial starting positions.

Esteban Ocon, Carlos Sainz, Oliver Bearman and Isack Hadjar completed the top eight finishers.

In the drivers’ standings, Piastri extended his title lead over Norris to nine points.

At lights out, Piastri made a clean star to lead Verstappen through the opening sector but the latter got the slipstream out of Radillon along the Kemmel Straight, which allowed him to sweep round the outside into Les Combes into the lead.

Leclerc meanwhile made the same move on Norris for third into the same corner as everyone else held position, except Alpine’s Pierre Gasly who didn’t take the start due to a water leak but joined two laps down.

Norris however repassed Leclerc for third into the same corner on lap four whilst further back, Lewis Hamilton and Andrea Kimi Antonelli demoted Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg down to 18th by the end of lap five.

Up front, Verstappen resiliently kept Piastri at bay despite the Aussie having stayed within DRS range of the reigning four-time champion until the checkered flag.

Teams now turn their attention to Qualifying at 4pm CEST (3pm BST) ahead of the Grand Prix which takes place tomorrow (27 July) at 3pm CEST (2pm BST).