Max Verstappen wins wild Belgian Grand Prix sprint race in downpour

Max Verstappen of Red Bull received the Sprint race on Saturday on the Belgian Grand Prix, regaining the lead from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri after the 2 drivers selected totally different methods in an exhilarating moist race.

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Max Verstappen wins wild Belgian Grand Prix sprint race

Alpine’s Pierre Gasly took benefit of the slippery Spa-Francorchamps monitor’s circumstances to finish the rostrum, whereas Lewis Hamilton was dropped from fourth to seventh after colliding with one other Red Bull driver, Sergio Perez, and receiving a penalty.

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Rain has been a recurring theme all through the weekend, and after a bit respite after the Shootout, the Sprint’s scheduled begin time of 17:05 native time was postponed by half-hour in order to accommodate the rainfall.

The solar had returned by way of the clouds by the point the obligatory formation lap on full moist tyres and behind the Safety Car began (which changed into a number of circuits), lighting up the monitor and indicating an early transition to intermediates and perhaps slick rubber because the race progressed.

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Differing methods repay for Max Verstappen

With the race having accomplished 11 circuits because the Safety Car pulled into the pits, quite a few drivers made the choice to change from moist to intermediate tyres straight away, together with Piastri, Carlos Sainz, Gasly, Hamilton, Perez, Daniel Ricciardo, Alex Albon, Lance Stroll, Valtteri Bottas, and Nico Hulkenberg.

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Verstappen, who received the pole place by staying out and utilizing the rolling begin, maintained his lead over Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Esteban Ocon, and George Russell regardless of radioing “we need to box this lap” as he fought to get his moist tyres to carry out in the constantly-drying circumstances.

Verstappen and the opposite moist runners pitted on the conclusion of the opening lap of the race, and Piastri took the lead when the reigning double world champion returned to the fray. This opened up the potential for an thrilling tussle down the road.

It would come right down to that and the reigning world champion had the beating of Piastri.

Belgian Grand Prix sprint race outcomes