Max Verstappen passes Oscar Piastri to lead and eventually win F1 Belgian GP sprint race, as Lando Norris recovered to third.
Even before the start of F1 Belgian GP sprint race at Spa-Francorchamps, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was forced to retire due to water leak issue which they found on the grid. He was towed into the garage from eighth, with teammate Franco Colapinto to start from pitlane.
Gasly did join the race after two laps after Alpine managed to fix the car. At the start, meanwhile, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri led the way initially but Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took the F1 Belgian GP sprint lead at Les Combes, as McLaren’s Lando Norris lost third to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Haas’ Esteban Ocon was fifth from Williams’ Carlos Sainz, Haas’ Oliver Bearman and Visa Cash App RB’s Isack Hadjar in the Top 8 points places, with Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto just behind. Only Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli managed to gain one place on Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg.
It was Verstappen in the lead still at halfway mark, as Piastri was pushing hard to catch him. Norris managed to retake third at Les Combes after passing Leclerc, who dropped off Piastri’s tail. The Australian came close to potentially passing the Dutchman, but to no avail.
Norris joined the party as well but was unable to make a move. Verstappen eventually held off Piastri to win the F1 Belgian GP sprint, as Norris was a close third ahead of Leclerc in the Top 4. The points positions stayed as it is with Ocon in fifth from Sainz, Bearman and Hadjar in the Top 8.
Bortoleto missed out in ninth, with Visa Cash App RB’s Liam Lawson rounding the Top 10. Gasly pitted at the start of the final lap to retire, as Hamilton resisted Antonelli pressure and managed to clear Williams’ Alexander Albon on the final lap to be 15th.
Here’s what was said after Friday in F1 Belgian GP
