Verstappen Triumphs at Formula 1 2025 Belgian GP Sprint Race fending off McLaren boys Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris Norris who were on a late charge up for P1 battle. More thrills unfolded as the rookies impressed the motorsport fans with their performance; Haas, Williams and Sauber shines as Mercedes fades down; Disappointing sprint for Lewis Hamilton while Carlos brings home some crucial points for Williams. Keeping up with its tradition of delivering surprises, 2025 Belgian GP Sprint Race did not fail to entertain us.
Max Verstappen Clinches Dominant Sprint Victory at Spa-Francorchamps
Max Verstappen secured his first Sprint win of the 2025 F1 season with a commanding performance in 100km dash at the Belgian GP on Saturday. The Red Bull ace overtook polesitter Oscar Piastri on the opening lap and maintained control under intense pressure to take the chequered flag 0.753s ahead of the McLaren driver.
Piastri’s Pole Start and Verstappen’s Bold Move
Oscar Piastri had stunned the grid during Sprint Qualifying, claiming pole with a 1m 40.510s lap—over four-tenths clear of Verstappen. At lights out, the Australian launched cleanly, but Verstappen’s superior pace and a well-timed move into the Kemmel straight put the Red Bull in front before Lap 1 was done.
McLaren Duel Heats Up, Leclerc Briefly Interrupts
Lando Norris lost third to Charles Leclerc early on but recovered the position as the race progressed. While Norris closed in on Piastri, the McLaren pair were evenly matched, unable to mount a serious threat to Verstappen who defended smartly even as he reported braking issues late in the race.
Drama Further Down the Grid
Lewis Hamilton was eliminated early in Sprint Qualifying, starting 18th and finishing the Sprint Race 15th. Mercedes endured a tough day with George Russell finishing 12th and the rookie Kimi Antonelli ending 17th. Meanwhile, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto started from the pit lane and ended 19th, while his teammate Pierre Gasly retired due to an issue after briefly rejoining two laps down.
Tyre Strategies and Technical Woes
Most of the grid opted for medium compound tyres, with Colapinto the sole driver on softs. Alpine’s troubles continued when Gasly’s A525 suffered a water system issue, forcing a late withdrawal. The race ultimately became a showcase of strategic driving and tyre management amid Spa’s demanding layout.
Formula 1 2025 Belgian GP Sprint Race Results (Spa-Francorchamps):
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 26:37.997
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) : +0.753s
- Lando Norris (McLaren) : +1.414s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) : +10.176s
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) : +13.789s
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) : +14.964s
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) : +18.610s
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) : +19.119s
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) : +22.183s
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) : +22.897s
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) : +24.551s
- George Russell (Mercedes) : +25.969s
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) : +26.595s
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) : +29.046s
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) : +30.175s
- Alexander Albon (Williams) : +30.941s
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) : +31.981s
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) : +32.867s
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine) : +38.072s
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – DNF
What’s Next?
Attention now turns to the main event as Grand Prix Qualifying kicks off at 16:00 local time on Saturday. With Verstappen looking strong and McLaren on the charge, the race weekend at Spa is shaping up for a thrilling continuation.
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