Belgian GP Sprint result: Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen duel decided by key decision

A shrewd Red Bull car set-up decision helped Max Verstappen get the better of McLaren to win the Belgian Grand Prix sprint. Oscar Piastri had started on pole with a monster qualifying lap, but the call to reduce the downforce on Verstappen's car gave the Dutchman the edge.

McLaren have had the best race car all season, and it looked to be so again during the twistier sections of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. But this track also has long straights and that the the opportunity that Red Bull saw.

They gave Verstappen a smaller rear wing which reduced his grip in corners but made him lightning quick on the straights, which helped him to take the lead early on. And he had the straight-line speed to keep Piastri behind for the rest of the 15-lap dash and prove he is still determined to succeed with Red Bull.

Lando Norris spent most of the race watching team-mate and title rival Piastri try but fail to stop Verstappen. He had been briefly passed by Charles Leclerc, but made light work of getting back ahead of the Ferrari to make it two McLarens in the top three.

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One of those in contention for points had his chances scuppered before the Sprint even started. Pierre Gasly suffered a water leak on his reconnaissance laps to the grid and that led to his Alpine being wheeled back to the garage so his mechanics could get to work fixing it.

It meant the Frenchman missed the start of the race, but he was at least able to head out on lap three. Two laps down, he had no chance of challenging for the top eight, but he was able to at least gather some useful race data which could prove invaluable for Sunday's main event.

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The 19 cars that did start the Sprint did so safely, no-one willing to risk a big crash at the first corner just a few hours before qualifying for the Grand Prix. Pole-sitter Piastri kept hold of the lead in the opening exchanges, but soon lost it to Verstappen and his high-speed car set-up.

Red Bull's decision to use a smaller rear wing to reduce downforce on the Dutchman's car proved to be an inspired decision as, on the long straights at Spa-Francorchamps, he had an obvious pace advantage over the McLarens and used it early on to wrestle control of the Sprint from the Australian.

Norris, who started third, also lost a place to Leclerc at the same corner after some hesitant braking. It didn't take the Brit long to get back ahead of the Ferrari, but it was tougher for Piastri who was quicker in the tighter, twistier middle sector struggling to keep up on the straights.

He kept Verstappen honest, but was unable to stop the Dutchman from getting back onto the top step of the podium in new boss Laurent Mekies' first race in charge, following Christian Horner's exit. But it was a race to forget for the likes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, who were well out of points contention after their respective terrible qualifying results.