After a three-week break, Formula One racing action resumed at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. But before the main event on Sunday, fans were given a preview of racing with a 15-lap sprint race.
Eighteen cars lined up on the starting grid, excluding either Alpine car. Franco Colapinto would have to start the race from the pit lane thanks to changes made to his car under Parc Ferme. His teammate Pierre Gasly was set for a solid P8 start, but was trapped in the garage with an oil leak. The Frenchman would eventually join the race, but being two laps down converted the race into a practice session.
Oscar Piastri had a perfect launch from pole position, preventing Max Verstappen from hanging on around the outside of the first corner. Verstappen had a bit of wheel spin on the corner exit, dropping him back from the lead McLaren through Raidillon and Eau Rouge. But this was the ideal gap for him to utilize the slipstream to take the lead down the Kemmel Straight.
Further back, Lando Norris lost a position to Charles Leclerc under braking for the bus stop, dropping him to P4. Leclerc held the position for the first few laps, but quickly fell out of DRS range to Piastri ahead. The Ferrari lacked organic straight-line speed, especially against a McLaren with DRS. Norris returned to P3.
At the halfway point in the race, Norris had made up the time lost from getting stuck behind Leclerc, bringing himself to within DRS range of his teammate. Piastri also remained within DRS range of Verstappen, but neither McLaren could make inroads on the leading Red Bull.
There’s more racing in store around the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps this weekend. The main race is set for tomorrow.
| 1 | O. Piastri | 241 |  | |
| 2 | L. Norris | 232 | -9 | |
| 3 | M. Verstappen | 173 | -68 | |
| 4 | G. Russell | 147 | -94 | |
| 5 | C. Leclerc | 124 | -117 | |
| 1 | McLaren | 473 | | |
| 2 | Ferrari | 227 | -246 | |
| 3 | Mercedes | 210 | -263 | |
| 4 | Red Bull | 180 | -293 | |
| 5 | Williams | 62 | -411 | |
