During the recent Sprint race, Oscar Piastri from McLaren demonstrated a strong start, yet found himself unable to defend against Max Verstappen, who executed a skillful overtake down the Kemmel Straight once he slipped into the slipstream. Charles Leclerc also made a similar move on Lando Norris, but Norris managed to reclaim his position, closing in on the leading duo. Despite their impressive efforts, both Piastri and Norris lacked the straight-line speed to challenge the Red Bull for the victory, as Verstappen showcased flawless driving in the closing stages.
On a positive note for McLaren, their one-lap performance was unmatched, with both drivers locking out the front row for the Grand Prix. Piastri faced a minor setback during his final flying lap, which ultimately affected his qualifying position, allowing Norris to secure his fourth pole of the season. Norris expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, "It was a decent lap and I’m very happy. The car has been flying all weekend, and I feel good. Oscar's been doing a good job too; we’re pushing each other a lot."
Piastri, finishing the Sprint in second and qualifying second as well, expressed his disappointment about not fully maximizing his final run, noting, "I lost time at Turn 14, but it’s incredibly fine margins out there. Starting on the front row is always a good thing." With unpredictable weather forecasted for race day, Piastri remains optimistic about their chances.
Andrea Stella, the Team Principal, praised the team's performance, stating, "The team and drivers did a great job today, achieving a double podium in the Sprint and a 1-2 result in Qualifying. We’re in a good position to make improvements ahead of tomorrow's race."
Red Bull's decision to use a skinny rear wing for the Sprint race proved to be a masterstroke, granting Verstappen the straight-line speed advantage needed to overtake Piastri early on. From that point, Verstappen maintained his lead with strategic battery management and defensive driving.
Despite finishing the Sprint in first, Verstappen expressed some disappointment in Qualifying, where he placed fourth, stating, "I felt like I couldn’t push the car to the limit. We were pretty close to the McLarens, so it was a shame to finish P4." Teammate Yuki Tsunoda also had mixed results, finishing the Sprint in 11th but qualifying 7th, marking a significant improvement for him.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc managed to finish fourth in the Sprint but struggled to keep pace with the frontrunners. He qualified third, just ahead of Verstappen, showcasing his potential despite the challenges. Leclerc commented, "I'm very happy today... we put it all together and didn't leave anything on the table."
In contrast, Lewis Hamilton faced a disappointing day, finishing 15th in the Sprint and being eliminated in Q1 due to track limits. Hamilton remains determined to improve, saying, "Tomorrow’s race will be challenging, but I’m focused on making up ground."
The performance of Mercedes during the weekend fell below expectations, with George Russell finishing 12th in the Sprint but qualifying 6th, providing a glimmer of hope for the team. Russell mentioned, "We are struggling here in Spa... Starting P6 tomorrow still gives us a chance for decent points."
Teammate Kimi Antonelli experienced another challenging day, finishing 17th in both the Sprint and Qualifying. Team Principal Toto Wolff acknowledged the difficulties, stating, "We need to quickly understand why we’ve been facing balance limitations." With rain on the horizon, they hope to capitalize on any opportunities that arise.
In the Sprint, Carlos Sainz finished sixth, earning valuable points, while Alex Albon showcased his skills by qualifying fifth, the best position for Williams this season. Albon expressed his happiness, stating, "Our race pace feels strong, so I’m hoping for a straightforward race tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Haas drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman also performed well in the Sprint, finishing fifth and seventh, respectively. However, they struggled in Qualifying, with Bearman expressing frustration over missed opportunities.
The unpredictable weather at Spa is set to play a crucial role during the race. Pirelli's Motorsport Director, Mario Isola, noted the importance of strategy in such conditions, stating, "If it’s a dry race with rain on the way, the Medium compound could be the favorite." With teams preparing for various scenarios, the upcoming race promises to be an exciting spectacle.
