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.

While some drivers, like Lando Norris, were on board with the decision, not everyone shared the same sentiment. Max Verstappen, never one to hold back, had a fiery reaction that’s now turning heads across the paddock and sparking debate in the F1 world.

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.

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.

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

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

McLaren's Lando Norris has struck back against team-mate Oscar Piastri by taking his fourth pole of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the Belgian Grand Prix.