SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium: 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, who led Red Bull into Formula One in 2005, was dismissed by the team’s owners. Verstappen seized the lead on the opening lap from second at the start and kept McLaren’s Oscar Piastri behind him to secure his and the team’s first win of any sort since Imola in May.

Max Verstappen says Christian Horner's removal as Red Bull team principal has no impact on the decision about his own future.

BRUSSELS: Laurent Mekies didn’t get long to settle in as Red Bull team principal on his first Formula 1 race weekend leading his new team. There was just one practice session for…