Max Verstappen wins the Qatar Grand Prix

Verstappen just turned 26achieved his fourteenth victory of the seasonHe finished forty-ninth since racing in F1, winning at Lusail – also setting the fastest lap – to overtake two McLarens ahead of Australian Oscar Piastri, who finished second this Sunday after sprinting on Saturday; and that of England’s Lando Norris; who also took to the podium. In a very tough race marked by heat and, on this day, also by humidity, with no other Spaniard participating, Carlos Sainz When (Ferrari) was discovered recently, a malfunction – According to his team, his car had “a problem with the fuel system”; While Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) was in ninth place, he lost one place and took tenth place after the third penalty he received for exceeding the recently announced track limits.

Verstappen, who was taken to the podium by team members when he arrived at the track, had won his third consecutive championship before the end of Saturday’s sprint. ‘Checo’ was (especially) wrecked by Alpine’s Frenchman Esteban Ocon, who was seventh this Sunday, and German Nico Hülkenberg (Haas), at the same time the Mexican driver was forced to retire from the race (eleventh of 19 laps). ‘Mad Max’ automatically claimed its third crown.

Something that didn’t stop him from challenging for victory in a sprint that would finish second. Behind Piastri: the best debutant in a long timeHaving just celebrated his first podium in the premier category in Japan, he took another step forward this Sunday by finishing second. All this after leading all timetables except the second quarter on Friday.

Approximately Extraordinary obligation announced five hours before the race -for preventive reasons, for greater security- tires cannot last more than 18 lapsThis meant that each driver had to make at least three stops to change wheels, as the race was planned with a total of 57 people.

After analyzing used tires during the first and only free practice session on Friday, sole tire supplier Pirellii confirmed: Those used for more than 20 rounds did not meet all relevant safety parametersIt was therefore decided to increase the track boundaries at two of the 16 corners of the Lusail circuit (12 and 13); here the ‘pianos’ surrounding the track can be very abrasive. We also warn that the rules may be changed this Sunday.

Thus, the range of different strategies was finally opened, as the 18 lap limit refers to new tyres; With the ones used before, you can take as many turns as you have until you reach that number. This added to the difficulty of a race in which everyone was permanently ‘kicked out’ and which British fourth-placed George Russell (Mercedes) had no hesitation in describing as the ‘toughest’ of his life.

In the race, which is expected to be very intense with stoppages, Alonso said the following to Efe after the race: Leaving “happy” but also “with a bittersweet taste”He started fourth in the second row alongside seven-time British winner Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes). Behind the three-time champion and Russell, who took his tenth pole position of the season; He was threatened by Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), who theoretically started fifth (the position he finished in) and Piastri, who was sixth in the standings.

Norris’s starts in tenth place, along with the other McLaren. Behind the Alpine French And By Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo), eighth across the finish line.

Sainz, this season’s only non-Red Bull winner in Singapore, would start the race from twelfth place. However, just an hour before the race, Ferrari announced that it would not participate in the race due to a fuel leak in its vehicle. ‘Checo’, whose mechanics had difficulty repairing the damage to the damaged car on Saturday and who will be one place behind the talented Madrid driver, also did this from the pitlane. hard with