SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium — Formula One champion Max Verstappen won a "cat and mouse" Belgian Grand Prix sprint on Saturday in Red Bull's first race under the leadership of Laurent Mekies following Christian Horner's dismissal.

As Max Verstappen slips to fourth place in qualifying, Red Bull says it has upped its downforce levels anticipating a wet Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday

Max Verstappen caught Oscar Piastri on the opening lap and took the win in the F1 Sprint at the Belgian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen said Red Bull could always count on him, as the four-times Formula One champion gave new team boss Laurent Mekies a winning start in a Saturday sprint at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Red Bull have taken the decision to sacrifice Max Verstappen's superior top-speed at Spa. Red Bull have revealed they have sacrificed Max Verstappen’s top-speed advantage for increased downforce ahead of an anticipated wet Belgian Grand Prix.

Red Bull start life after Christian Horner with sprint win for Max Verstappen - Horner left the team earlier this month but his replacement, Laurent Mekies, has his first victory

However, the Dutchman failed to take the momentum into qualifying for Sunday's Grand Prix race as he only managed to put his Red Bull fourth, behind Charles Leclerc, Piastri and Norris. It has to be said that Verstappen 's car underwent a set-up change during the break between the sprint and the Grand Prix qualifying.

Max Verstappen no cree que el despido de Christian Horner en Red Bull “importará en absoluto” en medio de las conjeturas de que

With Red Bull off the pace and a daughter at home, Verstappen tells The Athletic he's thinking long term - on and off the grid

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has named George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli as the team's priority for the 2026 Formula One season. The revelation comes after Max Verstappen was strongly linked to Mercedes.