Max Verstappen delivered Red Bull Racing its first victory since the dismissal of long-time team principal Christian Horner, winning Saturday’s 100-kilometre sprint at Spa-Francorchamps in the opening race of the Laurent Mekies era. Starting second, the four-time world champion slipstreamed past pole-sitter Oscar Piastri on the Kemmel Straight on lap one and held the McLaren driver at bay by 0.753 seconds across 15 laps. Team-mate Lando Norris completed the podium ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Haas’s Esteban Ocon and Williams’ Carlos Sainz. The eight-point haul enables Piastri to extend his championship advantage over Norris to nine points, 241-232, with Verstappen consolidating third on 173. Mercedes endured a point-less outing, George Russell finishing 12th and rookie Kimi Antonelli 17th, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton placed 15th after starting 18th. Qualifying for Sunday’s grand prix follows later on a weekend forecast to bring rain, offering Verstappen and Red Bull a further opportunity to test their form in the team’s first full event under new management.