Formula 1
MAX IS A THREE TIME WORLD CHAMPION AND CARRIES ON WITH ANOTHER DOMINATING WIN IN THE SWELTERING HEAT OF QATAR! MCLAREN BOYS ON THE PODIUM AGAIN WITH A TOUCH OF CAGE RATTLING!
Oracle Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen wrapped up his Formula One world title-winning weekend at the Qatar Grand Prix with a dominant drive around the Losail Circuit to comfortably lead home McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris and record his 14th victory of the 2023 season.
The Dutch driver secured his third consecutive Drivers’ Championship title by finishing second in Saturday’s sprint race behind Piastri and joined a select group of drivers that includes Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda and Nelson Piquet on three F1 world titles.
LUSAIL CITY, QATAR – OCTOBER 08: 2023 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing is greeted by a guard of honour in the Paddock prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar at Lusail International Circuit on October 08, 2023 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.
Victory in the sprint also allowed Verstappen to equal Michael Schumacher’s record of winning the F1 crown with six races still to be completed.
Verstappen and the Oracle Red Bull Racing team couldn’t celebrate too hard with Sunday’s main race still to run and they carried on where they left off at the previous race in Japan with a dominant victory from pole position.
Despite the complications of a mandatory 18-lap tyre use limit being placed on teams due to degradation concerns on the new Losail Circuit surface, Verstappen controlled the race masterfully to secure victory over sprint winner Piastri by 4.833s, with Norris 5.969s behind Verstappen in third.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, 1st position, and Lando Norris, McLaren, 3rd position, talk in Parc Ferme after the Sprint race.
Victory in Qatar marked Verstappen’s 14th race win from the 17 races so far in 2023. Oracle Red Bull Racing, already the Constructors’ Championship winners this year, have also won all but one Grands Prix to date, the Singapore Grand Prix. The team has now won the Drivers’ and Constructors’ double for the sixth time.
SUPER MAX: “We had a really good race today. I think what really made it for me was the first stint where we were strong and good on the tyres. I had a slow stop at the end so the McLarens were quite close at the chequered flag but they have been quick all weekend.
Of course, with the mandatory three stops, we weren’t able to get the best out of our car as we are good on tyres, but we won and that’s the main thing. My hunger for winning hasn’t stopped since winning the Championship, I want to keep going and maximising the performance of the car each weekend.”
LUSAIL CITY, QATAR – OCTOBER 08: Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates with his team in the Pitlane after the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar at Lusail International Circuit on October 08, 2023 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.
PIASTRI: “Very very happy, obviously – Turn 1 was nice, that was definitely in the game plan before the race,” Piastri joked. “Really impressive pace… That was the most we could have done.
“Second and third for the team is an amazing result, it’s been an amazing weekend in general. So, I’m very happy… happy that all the tyres stayed together, that was good obviously, but yeah happy with another trophy too.”
“I think mostly the car, from quite early on in the year we knew Suzuka and here would probably be kind to us, [and] it’s been the case.
Oscar Piastri putting the pressure on teammate Lando Norris Qatar Grand Prix Lusail circuit Qatar 2023.
“Friday, I think both Lando and I were quite frustrated with ourselves in qualifying. I think yesterday, obviously, was a very good day for myself, and today I think it’s been good.
“We were able to show the pace of the car, so, [it’s] encouraging. To finish within five seconds of Max is pretty unbelievable from the start of the season so very happy.”
NORRIS: “Mega race from start to finish,” said Norris. “A good opening lap. I learned from my mistake yesterday of going wide, I [said] I would go tight, and I did. A good start, good pace throughout the whole thing. Probably the best pace out there today.
“So, I’m happy. Stressful, hot, sweaty, a little bit tired. Great job for the team, three [podiums] in a row now, [and a] 1.8 pitstop as well by the boys… Congrats to Oscar, no mistakes, and of course Max [Verstappen] once again.”
LCH: It was a big opportunity to get some good points for the team and in the heat of the moment, I didn’t really understand what happened. I felt the tap from behind, but I don’t think George had anywhere to go. It was a really unfortunate situation and I feel really sorry for the entire team. Massive apologies to everyone back at Brackley and Brixworth, and I take full responsibility.
Everybody is working incredibly hard so it’s massively gutting to have a result like this. The positives are that the pace of the car was strong across the weekend. George was also able to do a good job of getting back through to score some important points.