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 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. The race was the first since Christian Horner,

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.

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

Laurent Mekies is the new Red Bull F1 team principal and chief executive after Christian Horner was removed from those roles, and Helmut Marko has broken his silence on the change

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.

Red Bull Racing's first outing without former Team Principal Christian Horner is a Sprint win at Spa-Francorchamps as Verstappen takes his 12th career Sprint win since their inception in 2021.

The atmosphere within Red Bull Racing has changed following the dismissal of Christian Horner, according to Max Verstappen. "It's cheerful now, yes," says the current title holder. With the win in

Sky Sports Formula 1 commentator Martin Brundle offered additional information on Christian Horner's departure from Red Bull Racing.

A new Red Bull era begins under Mekies at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix. He was appointed after 18 months at Racing Bulls. He worked at Ferrari for five years, as deputy team principal and racing director, and at the F.I.A., which governs Formula 1, for four years, initially as safety director and then deputy race director.

McLaren's Lando Norris edged out championship-leading teammate and Formula One title rival Oscar Piastri to take pole position for what could be a wet and chaotic Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday. The Briton blasted around the long Spa-Francorchamps circuit in a best time of one minute 40.