Max Verstappen has conquered the sprint race at Formula 1's Belgian Grand Prix to start Red Bull's new era with a win. On the first lap of the 15-lap contest, Verstappen used his Red Bull's superior top speed to draft past polesitter Oscar Piastri at Les Combes, much like the championship leader had feared before the start.

FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (Reuters) -Formula One champion Max Verstappen won a "cat and mouse" Belgian Grand Prix sprint on Saturday in Red Bull's first race under the leadership of Laurent Mekies following Christian Horner's dismissal.

Max Verstappen used the slipstream from pole-sitter Oscar Piastri to pass the McLaren driver on the opening lap of the Sprint at Spa and set up the victory. Verstappen claimed the win by 0.753s ahead of the championship leader, with Lando Norris third.