Max Verstappen clinches his third consecutive F1 title at Qatar GP

Max Verstappen had a roaring podium win at the Qatar GP Sprint Race, establishing his claim on the 2023 F1 World Championship with six Grands Prix still in the pipeline.

Max Verstappen clinches his third consecutive F1 title at Qatar GP

Max Verstappen (Via IMAGO)

Max Verstappen pulls off a hat-trick, winning the Qatar GP Sprint race and securing his third consecutive World Championship. This historic win makes Verstappen one of the only six drivers in the history of F1 to have a Saturday Championship decider. Red Bull and Max have now mathematically locked in the 2023 World Championship with six races still in the pipeline, including tomorrow’s main event.

Heading into the weekend, Verstappen had a straightforward goal – score three or more points to settle the title race. His teammate, Sergio Perez, lagged 177 points behind, and with today’s triumph, Verstappen stretched his lead to 223 points. Given that only 172 points are up for grabs in the remaining races, Max Verstappen is officially the 2023 Champion.

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Verstappen enjoyed a splendid Friday, leading the pack in FP1 and clinching the pole position by a 5-tenths margin to George Russell in second place. Moving into Saturday, Verstappen was dealt a blow by the McLaren cars, who outqualified him on the front row. Despite facing initial challenges, he managed to pass both cars win the sprint, and secure the third title.

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He was decided as the Champion even before he crossed the line as his teammate, nearest contender, Sergio Perez, spun out of the race and into the gravel. He finished the race at P2 behind Oscar Piastri, who produced an impressive run after starting the race on the pole.

From the beginning of the season, it was evident that Verstappen would dominate once again. Although he faced an initial challenge from his teammate, the storm eventually settled. Throughout the season, the championship lead remained firmly in Verstappen’s grip, making him the first driver since Jenson Button in 2009 to claim the title while leading the charts from start to finish.

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Max Verstappen keeps up his bizarre trend of winning the title in nontraditional methods

The 2023 season witnessed absolute dominance from Max and Red Bull, securing victory in every race except Singapore. Max’s tally of 13 wins out of 16 races positions him to surpass his record of 15 wins set last year potentially. Following his Saturday triumph, Verstappen continues his trend of clinching titles in unconventional ways.

Max Verstappen, 2022 world champion
Max Verstappen, 2022 world champion (Credits: F1)

His first Championship in 2021 was marked by a controversial last-lap decision in Abu Dhabi, granting him the race win and the title. The following year saw the title decided on a rain-soaked Suzuka afternoon, a race cut short due to heavy rainfall. The total points awarded, rather than the expected 75%, left everyone uncertain about the final results.

Now, he adds a new feather to his cap by winning a title on a Saturday. In achieving his third world title, Max joins the ranks of legends like Niki Lauda and Ayrton Senna. Additionally, Max is just 3 points away from matching Alain Prost’s 51 race wins record and Sebastian Vettel’s 53. Given his current record-breaking spree, these milestones seem within easy reach.

As the season concludes, attention shifts to the runner-up spot, likely a battle between Lewis Hamilton and Perez. With the title sealed, all eyes will be on whether Max will assist his teammate in securing Red Bull’s first-ever 1-2 finish. Verstappen and Red Bull will be celebrating this monumental achievement tonight.

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