Max Verstappen crowned world champion for third consecutive year in Qatar GP sprint race

As evidence… In a season dominated head and shoulders, Max Verstappen won a new world champion title, Saturday October 7, at the end of the sprint race of the Qatar Grand Prix. Third on the starting grid, the Red Bull driver did not need to exert his talent to climb onto the second step of the podium at the end of the race. Victory went to Oscar Piastri (McLaren), but the main thing was elsewhere for the Dutchman, assured of securing a third crown in the middle of the race.

Only his teammate Sergio Pérez could prevent him from popping the champagne at the start of the weekend, provided he scored at least five points more than his rival. The Mexican, in difficulty after a good start to the season, was unable to do so. He made Verstappen’s task easier by ending up in the gravel trap on lap 11.

An almost perfect season

The ogre Max Verstappen has not finished his feast. On Sunday, he will start from pole position for the Grand Prix on the Lusail circuit, with the aim of securing a 14th victory in 17 races this year. He would thus approach the record of successes in a season (15, a mark which already belongs to him). His record of 454 points scored in 2022 should also not take long to be beaten. Perhaps from the following Grand Prix, in Austin (United States), on the Circuit of the Americas. Max Verstappen has only left the first two places in a race once, at the Singapore meeting. Proof of a completely crazy season for “Mad Max”.