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.

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 overtook Oscar Piastri to win the Formula 1 sprint race at the Belgian Grand Prix as Red Bull begins a new era without fired team principal Christian Horner.

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.

Max Verstappen says he's shown Red Bull he will always give his all for the team with his performances after winning the Sprint at the Belgian Grand Prix.Red Bull’s first race weekend without Christian Horner as team principal got off to a winning start early on Saturday,

New York Red Bulls (9-9-6, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Chicago Fire (9-9-5, ninth in the Eastern Conference) Chicago; Saturday, 7:30 p.m. CDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Chicago -108, New York +256,

Red Bull have introduced a new front wing configuration at the Belgian Grand Prix, which features changes to the camber and incidence of the mainplane and secondary flap, with the most obvious visual changes to be found in the outboard section (green arrows), whereby there’s some small changes to the twist geometry.

New Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said he is making it his mission to provide Max Verstappen with a competitive car to remove any doubts of seeking a move away.