P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen recorded his first Sprint win of the season, and first in the post-Christian Horner era.
Max Verstappen described how he had to complete “15 qualifying laps” to beat McLaren in the Belgian Grand Prix Sprint, using his low downforce rear wing to overtake pole-sitter Oscar Piastri in Les Combes. Throughout the race, Piastri stayed within DRS range, putting pressure on Verstappen to avoid mistakes. Verstappen’s only slip came on Lap 10, but he managed to keep Piastri behind and secure the win. Reflecting on the race, Verstappen highlighted the extreme measures he had to take to defend his position. Despite the challenging battle, Verstappen expressed satisfaction with the result and the strategy employed during the Sprint race at Spa.
