By Mark Gero
Max Verstappen took his second career sprint victory at this circuit Saturday afternoon in preparation to take pole position for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Franchorchamps with a half a second win over Oscar Piastri and Piastri’s McLaren teammate Lando Norris, who finished in third.
“It worked out really well.” Said Verstappen afterwards. “That is the only real opportunity you are going to get against them, and we got it.
Then I knew it was going to be tough to keep them behind, and then it’s cat and mouse, playing with DRS and battery usage. The whole race was within 0.7secs. It’s a great result for us.”
Verstappen wasted no time in overtaking the series leading Australian right on the opening lap at Kemmel and kept his lead for the rest of the event. There were many chances for Piastri to take the lead from the Dutchman, but it was not possible as Piastri’s car was not as quick in a straight line as Verstappen’s.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc overtook Norris early in the race but was passed by the Briton at the midway point. Leclerc had an uneventful race afterwards and finished the event in fourth. The day went to the two Haas cars as the American team took double points with Esteban Ocon in fifth and Oliver Bearman in seventh. Williams Carlos Sainz was sixth and the Racing Bull of Isack Hadjar completed the points list of this short race of 15 laps in eighth.
The only retirement of the race was the Alpine of Pierre Gasly, who did not even start because of an oil leak.
Verstappen’s win closes in on catching the McLaren duo, but the real test will be later in the afternoon on Saturday when the qualifying will determine who will be in a good position to win Sunday’s event.
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