#1 Max Verstappen, (NED) Oracle Red Bull Racing, Honda during the Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps 27-30 July 2023 Formula 1 World championship 2023.

F1: Verstappen outduels Piastri to win Belgian GP Sprint Race

Max Verstappen passed rookie Oscar Piastri on a safety car restart and won the wet Belgian GP Sprint race going away

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Verstappen started from pole but lost the lead during the pit stop exchange from full wet tires to Intermediates.

With Piastri in the lead, Fernando Alonso crashed on the wet track, bringing out a Safety Car.

#81 Oscar Piastri, (AUS) McLaren Mercedes during the Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps 27-30 July 2023 Formula 1 World championship 2023.
#81 Oscar Piastri, (AUS) McLaren Mercedes during the Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps 27-30 July 2023 Formula 1 World championship 2023.

When the track went green at the end of lap 5, Verstappen closed in on Piastri as they exited La Source. Aided by a slipstream he powered past the Australian and into the lead as they made their way down the Kemmel straight.

And from there on Verstappen pulled away each lap to win by 6.6s and the 8 points that goes with it.

Rookie Piastri was very impressive and is turning a lot of heads in the paddock.

Pierre Gasly rounded out the podium for Alpine, seeing off intense pressure from Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton, a dirty driver, received a 5-second for hitting Sergio Perez and causing him to retire. It was clear on the straight, after he purposely bumped the Red Bull by running him wide, that Hamilton kept moving left and touching Perez’s rear tire, trying to give him a flat tire.

#44 Lewis Hamilton, (GRB) AMG Mercedes Ineos during the Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps 27-30 July 2023 Formula 1 World championship 2023.
Dirty driver who needs to be suspended – #44 Lewis Hamilton, (GRB) AMG Mercedes Ineos during the Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps 27-30 July 2023 Formula 1 World championship 2023.

Perez eventually retired with a hole in his sidepod caused by Hamilton.

Hole in Perez Sidepod after Lewis Hamilton ran into him on purpose
Hole in Perez Sidepod after Lewis Hamilton ran into him on purpose

He should be suspended for a race for his actions.

Carlos Sainz Jr was 4th ahead of his teammate Charles Leclerc who rounded out the top-5.

“It was a safer call [not to come in] so I didn’t mind to stay out,” said Verstappen.

“We lost one position but we knew we were quick, when we put the inters on we were flying.

“I need to pass a few cars [tomorrow] and the biggest risk is lap one, Turn 1. As long as we stay out of trouble we’ll be okay.”

“Very, very happy. We tried our best, we boxed when the Safety Car came in, led a few laps but we were no match for Max,” said Piastri.

“Apart from Max, our pace was really strong. I can’t thank the team enough for the car, we still have a little bit of work to do but to lead my first laps is a day I won’t forget.”

“I must say it feels amazing, I’m extremely happy to finish in the top 3 at Spa, it feels like some sort of home race for us,” said Gasly after a podium the Alpine team really needed.

“Very difficult conditions but extremely happy, we pitted at the right time and it feels very special to do it here.

“I gave it everything, I could see [Hamilton] coming back and getting closer. The tires were degrading, I just gave it my all and it paid off.”

Sprint winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing (second from left), Second placed Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren (L), Third placed Pierre Gasly of France and Alpine F1 (second from right) and Jacky Ickx pose for a photo in parc ferme during the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 29, 2023 in Spa, Belgium. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //

Sprint Race Results

POS NO DRIVER CAR LAPS BEHIND
1 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing Honda 11 +0.000s
2 81 Oscar Piastri Mclaren Mercedes 11 +6.677s
3 10 Pierre Gasly Alpine Renault 11 +10.733s
4 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 11 +12.648s
5 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 11 +15.016s
6 4 Lando Norris Mclaren Mercedes 11 +16.052s
7 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 11 +16.757s
8 63 George Russell Mercedes 11 +16.822s
9 31 Esteban Ocon Alpine Renault 11 +22.410s
10 3 Daniel Ricciardo AlphaTauri Honda 11 +22.806s
11 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin Aramco 11 +25.007s
12 23 Alexander Albon Williams Mercedes 11 +26.303s
13 77 Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo Ferrari 11 +27.006s
14 20 Kevin Magnussen Haas Ferrari 11 +32.986s
15 24 Zhou Guanyu Alfa Romeo Ferrari 11 +36.342s
16 2 Logan Sargeant Williams Mercedes 11 +37.571s
17 27 Nico Hulkenberg Haas Ferrari 11 +37.827s
18 22 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri Honda 11 +39.267s
19 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing Honda 8 DNF
20 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin Aramco 2 DNF