Sprint Race Report - Verstappen wins

By Mark Karp

Max Verstappen in the Red Bull-Honda, in a wet but drying Sprint Race in Belgium.

After leading early on when drivers switched over from full wet to intermediate wet tyres, Oscar Piastri in the McLaren-Mercedes finished in second place, 6.677 seconds behind, followed by Pierre Gasly in the Alpine-Renault, 10.733 seconds behind.

Carlos Sainz (12.648s) in the Ferrari was fourth, his team mate Charles Leclerc (15.016s) was fifth, Lando Norris (16.052s) in the second McLaren was sixth, Lewis Hamilton (16.757s) in the Mercedes GP, after being given a 5-second penalty for contact after battling Perez, finished seventh, and his team mate George Russell (16.822s) took the final point in eighth.

With variable weather conditions with the Sprint Race start approaching, the field waited with rain starting to fall.

The start is delayed for the rain.

After 20 minutes delay the rain stopped and the sun came out. Race control announces that the race will start at 17:35 local time. All drivers are mandated to start on full wet tyres, with the field following the safety car.

Verstappen is on pole with Piastri alongside on the front row, Sainz and Leclerc on row 2, Norris and Gasly on row 3, Hamilton and Perez on row 4, and Ocon and Russell rounding out the top ten.

At 17:35, the field pulled away behind the safety car with Verststappen leading the field on four formation laps, before the safety car will come in and the race will begin with a rolling start.

All drivers thinking that they can change over to intermediate tyres already.

After the formation laps, the safety car comes in, and many drivers follow into the pits for intermediate tyres.

Verstappen leading Leclerc, Norris, Ocon, Russell, Sargeant, Alonso, Tsunoda, Magnussen and Zhou - the rest of the field pitting for inters.

At the end of lap 1 Verstappen, Leclerc, Norris, Ocon, Russell and the rest pit.

Out of the pitstop Piastri leads Verstappen, Gasly, Perez, Hamilton, Sainz, Leclerc, Norris, Ricciardo and Ocon in tenth place.

On lap 3 Piastri leads Verstappen by half a second.

On lap Alonso spins at turn 11 and goes off into the gravel and is out. The safety car is out.

Verstappen is told that Piastri’s left hand side tyres are struggling.

Behind the safety car Piastri leads Verstappen, Gasly, Perez, Hamilton, Sainz, Leclerc, Norris, Ricciardo and Ocon in tenth, followed by Stroll, Russell, Albon, Bottas, Hulkenberg and Sargeant.

At the start of lap 6 the race restarts with Piastri leading. Up the hill on the straight Verstappen passes for the lead.

Sargeant is

Hamilton and Perez go side-by-side, the two touch, Perez keeps the position.

At the end of the lap Hamilton passes Perez for fourth. Sainz then Leclerc both pass Perez as well, the Red Bull struggling.

On lap 7 Norris dives down the inside of Perez - Perez runs wide through the gravel but continues.

At lap 8 Verstappen leads Piastri by 3.2 seconds, followed by Gasly, Hamilton, Sainz, Leclerc, Norris, Ricciardo, Russell and Ocon in tenth,

Red Bull radios Perez to pit to retire the car.

Hamilton is handed 5-second penalty for contact with Perez.

On lap 10 Russell passes Ricciardo for eighth place.

At the finish of the race, on lap 11, Verstappen wins ahead of Piastri and Gasly.