Dutch driver Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull, enters the Qatar Grand Prix with a real chance to seal a third successive world title this weekend. The race at Losail marks the eighteenth round of the Formula 1 World Championship, and the sprint format adds an extra layer of pressure and opportunity. Mercedes will defend second place in the Constructors’ standings as Ferrari shows visible improvement, while Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin focuses on maintaining peak form in the closing stages of the season.
The defending champion demonstrated his surge in form at Suzuka two weeks ago, bouncing back from a challenging run to clinch the championship lead for the moment. He sits in second position in the drivers’ standings with a substantial buffer after accumulating 400 points, well ahead of his teammate. Sergio Perez finished the Japanese weekend with 223 points, leaving Verstappen to carry a significant lead into the final rounds.
With Verstappen comfortably ahead in the championship, Qatar becomes a pivotal moment on the calendar. Having already secured thirteen victories across sixteen races so far, he can clinch the title by finishing as low as sixth in the sprint-style format this Saturday, potentially extending the lead by as much as 146 points or more by the end of the Grand Prix weekend.
Verstappen also claimed his thirtieth pole position in Formula 1, and the tenth of the season, by topping Q3 and securing pole with a lap time of 1 minute 23.778 seconds on the newly laid 5,419-meter Losail track. He set the pace on soft tires, with a notable gap ahead of rivals, including Lando Norris who qualified on the front row beside him.
Alonso, currently fourth in the championship, sits 16 points behind third-placed Lewis Hamilton and will start from second on the grid. Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, is set to begin Sunday in third, with Carlos Sainz starting from a lower position on the grid in the twelfth slot.
Verstappen’s pole position has set the stage for a dramatic coronation if he can navigate the sprint race and the main Grand Prix flawlessly, a narrative that has fans across North America watching closely as the title picture tightens still further.
Verstappen takes pole position in Qatar and prepares for coronation
Where to watch Formula 1 races
Fans who are not at the track can still catch all the action on television. In the region, arrangements for broadcasting Formula 1 have included major providers and platforms that show the races live, though access may vary by country and package. For viewers without access to traditional TV coverage, streaming options and regional broadcasters often provide alternative means to follow the weekend’s events. [Source: broadcast partners]
Those seeking live coverage can check local listings and official broadcaster guides to confirm availability. The excitement of the sport remains the same, whether viewed from a living room in Toronto, New York, or Vancouver, or from a sunlit stand in Doha.
F1 Qatar GP sprint race schedule
Saturday, October 7
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Sprint race: 18:30