Max Verstappen won the Belgian Grand Prix sprint race on Saturday to get Red Bull’s post Christian Horner-era off to a flying start.

The world champion beat McLaren pole-sitter Oscar Piastri on Laurent Mekies’ first race weekend as team principal since replacing sacked Horner a fortnight ago.

Lando Norris in the other McLaren was third.

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“It worked out really well, I knew it was going to be tough keeping them (the McLarens) behind,” said Verstappen after his after his 12th career sprint win

“I couldn’t afford to make any big mistakes. It’s a sprint win but it still counts.”

Piastri enjoyed a smooth getaway but Verstappen made his decisive pass down the Kemmel straight on the first of the 15-lap dash.

“We have to appreciate what an incredibly brilliant drive that was from Max Verstappen,” Sky Sports F1’s Nico Rosberg said.

“From the outside sometimes it can look a little easier but in the car, he has a slower car than the McLarens, he has the maximum pressure – Oscar was always 0.6-0.7s behind all the way.

“When you’re inside the car, the pressure from Max is so insanely high in that car.

“One tiny mistake and the win is again. It’s so much easier for the guy who’s following, who most of the race did not have anyone behind him.”

Piastri extended his lead in the drivers championship by one point to nine over Norris, with Verstappen 68 points adrift of the Australian Qualifying for Sunday’s main race takes place later Saturday.

“I tried my best to snake my way through the straights and not give too much of a tow [at the start], but didn’t have enough straight-line speed and then obviously didn’t have enough speed for the next 15 laps either,” Piastri said.

“Still a good result, still good points. It is only a Sprint, the main points are tomorrow, so pretty happy with it but a bit frustrated I couldn’t get past.”

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