Max Verstappen clinches third World title in dramatic Qatar Grand Prix sprint race
Posted : 07 October 2023
Max Verstappen secured his third world title by finishing second in a thrilling and incident-filled sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix. The race, held under the lights at the Lusail circuit, was marked by three safety cars due to multiple accidents and collisions. McLaren's Oscar Piastri won the race, while Verstappen, who had dropped to fifth on the first lap, fought his way back to second but couldn't catch Piastri.
Verstappen's championship victory was essentially confirmed when his teammate Sergio Perez was involved in a three-way collision with Esteban Ocon and Nico Hulkenberg. Verstappen only needed to ensure he didn't lose more than five points to Perez to secure the title, so Perez's retirement made him the champion, regardless of his final result.
After the race, Verstappen expressed his gratitude to his team for providing him with a competitive car and reflected on an incredible year. The race featured a mix of tire strategies, with Piastri winning on medium tires after briefly losing the lead to George Russell, who was on soft tires. Russell's tires faded, and Piastri retook the lead before the Ocon-Hulkenberg-Perez collision.
In the end, it was a battle of tire strategies, with Verstappen and Norris making the most of their soft tires, while Hamilton climbed from 12th to fifth on medium tires. Williams driver Alex Albon, on medium tires, secured eighth place after starting 17th, demonstrating the effectiveness of that tire choice. Ferrari lost ground to Mercedes in the constructors' championship battle as Carlos Sainz held off teammate Charles Leclerc.
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