Max Verstappen left no room for surprise. Concentrated and calculated as ever, the Red Bull driver seized his first opportunity to become Formula 1 world champion in 2023, turning the 19 laps of this Saturday’s sprint race in Qatar into a mere procedure. At just 26 years old, the Dutch player is already living the history of this sport and joining a select club of three-time champions alongside Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, ​​Ayrton Senna and his “father-in-law”. Nelson Piquet.

Verstappen He needed just three points in the sprint race to claim his third consecutive crownHe started third after wins in 2021 and 2022 and avoided any risks in a busy start, losing two places to settle in fifth. Checo Pérez, second overall in the championship and the only driver on the track who could delay Max’s ‘flip’, eased his teammate’s path by dropping to eleventh place.

Piastri, who became the leader on the grid after being the fastest in the sprint class, maintained his leadership in the race. The unstable Lando Norris lost second place, being passed by Russell and Sainz at the start and eventually falling to sixth place. He was followed by Fernando Alonso, who gained two places at the start.

Two consecutive and very early safety cars due to Lawson and Sargeant leaving the track pinned the group down for six laps and when they restartedor Sainz launching his first attack on Piastri, Coming in second place after surrendering to the inspirational Russell. The Australian rookie did not give up and chased after Mercedes after breaking free from Carlos’ pressure.

Alonso had a tough fight with his former teammate Ocon, but to no avail. Verstappen took advantage of the DRS, the most effective weapon of his RB19, to leave Leclerc behind like a ‘missile’ and then hunted Sainz’s Ferrari.

Czech crash

Max was already third. Sixth place was enough to become champion. Without further intrigue, Checo Pérez was involved in a crash with Hülkenberg and Ocon, forcing the three out of the race and giving way to the third safety car of the night at Losail. This ‘mess up’ left Verstappen on the verge of his third title, waiting for the World Championship leader to cross the finish line.

Piastri took the lead again in the race. Couldn’t escape Max, Sainz, Norris and Russell Leclerc Next. In a thrilling finale, Verstappen showed his ambition and overtook Russell to win the race. I wanted to be a champion in a big way.

In the last three laps, Norris made a spectacular comeback, passing the two Ferraris very aggressively on the outside and moving into fourth place with Russell’s podium finish. Verstappen ruthlessly pursues Piastri, but there was no turning back. Piastri took the victory, but Max won the championship and Norris completed a historic podium finish. Sainz, sixth, and Alonso, ninth, could not take any prizes in this high-voltage race where both were gaining strength.