Verstappen wins first sprint since Horner's exit

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium -- Max Verstappen kicked disconnected Red Bull's post-Christian Horner epoch with an awesome sprint contention victory.

Reigning satellite champion Verstappen passed Piastri connected Lap 1 and past held disconnected the Australian and his McLaren teammate Lando Norris to clinch the victory.

It was the Red Bull's archetypal contention triumph of immoderate benignant since its debut successful 2005 not overseen by Horner, who was replaced arsenic CEO and squad main by Laurent Mekies 2 weeks ago.

The sprint format, introduced successful 2021, is simply a shortened mentation of Sunday's expansive prix and gave Verstappen 8 title points, though gains implicit the McLarens was minimal, with Piastri claiming 7 and Norris gaining six.

The effect meant Piastri extended his title pb implicit Norris to 9 points, with Verstappen present 68 points behind.

New Red Bull brag Mekies said connected Friday his fig 1 precedence is to springiness Verstappen a accelerated car -- thing which could chill caller speculation of him leaving earlier his declaration expires successful 2028 -- and Saturday's triumph volition beryllium a morale boosting 1 for the driver, brag and squad aft a challenging fewer weeks.

The pb 3 drivers were successful a conflict of their own, with Ferrari's Charles Leclec finishing the 15-lap contention implicit 7 seconds disconnected Verstappen.

Teammate Lewis Hamilton, who spun retired of Q1 connected Friday afternoon, toiled to 15th successful the different Ferrari.

Haas drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman converted a beardown qualifying show into 5th and seventh, finishing either broadside of Williams operator Carlos Sainz.

Racing Bulls rookie Isak Hadjar finished eighth, continuing his awesome season.

Former squad Mercedes besides failed to score, with George Russell 12th and Andrea Kimi Antonelli 17th.

Verstappen's triumph possibly offered a glimpse of however Red Bull tin bushed McLaren to triumph successful Sunday's main event, though determination volition beryllium much strategy options astatine play for the orangish cars.

Piastri held the pb astatine the start, emerging from the dilatory La Source hairpin up of Verstappen.

That near him a sitting duck successful the adjacent portion of the circuit, which snaked up Eau Rouge and past down the agelong Kemmel Straight -- Verstappen was capable to usage the slipstream of the McLaren to walk successful clip for the Les Combes chicane.

Piastri stayed adjacent to Verstappen and had respective stabs of the DRS overtaking assistance down the aforesaid portion of the circuit but ne'er attempted to pass.