Red Bull's Max Verstappen will not be able to trigger the performance clause in his contract with the team as he heads into the F1 summer break within the top three of the championship

Max Verstappen was left to rue what might have been after the Belgian Grand Prix was red flagged and then took place in mostly dry conditions.

New Red Bull Racing CEO and team principal Laurent Mekies has highlighted how Formula One's governing body, the FIA, delayed the Belgian Grand Prix race start to avoid a wet race. While he acknowledged that the delay was for safety reasons, the decision left Red Bull at a disadvantage, as its car was set up for a wet race.

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 has conquered the sprint race at Formula 1's Belgian Grand Prix to start Red Bull's new era with a win. On the first lap of the 15-lap contest, Verstappen used his Red Bull's superior top speed to draft past polesitter Oscar Piastri at Les Combes, much like the championship leader had feared before the start.

Max Verstappen didn't shy away from giving his thoughts on the FIA's decision to suspend the Belgian Grand Prix due to rainfall. The 100th anniversary of the Belgian Grand Prix was plagued by severe weather at the Spa-Francorchamps and after a Formula 3 event had to be abandoned due to the conditions, the Formula One race was also affected.

SportsLine's model analyzes Red Bull's Max Verstappen, McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and the rest of the starting grid's chances at the 2025 F1 Belgian GP