With an air of inevitability that is becoming increasingly familiar this season, Max Verstappen of course won the sprint race for the Belgian Grand Prix. It was a victory put in the shade, though, by a stellar performance from the rookie Oscar Piastri who definitively made his mark in Formula One at his 12th meeting, leading the race before claiming second place.
The 22-year-old Australian is still finding his feet in F1 but the alacrity with which he is doing so suggests McLaren have a real talent. At Spa-Francorchamps in the 11-lap dash in tricky wet-dry conditions he displayed all the confidence and control of a veteran.
