Verstappen secures third world title in Qatar sprint

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen secured his Formula 1 title hat-trick early on Saturday in the sprint to the Qatar Grand Prix. A second place in the short race north of Doha was enough for the 26-year-old Dutchman to take the World Cup crown for the third time after 2021 and 2022. The victory in the 19-lap sprint at the Lusail International Circuit was sensationally won by McLaren “rookie” Oscar Piastri, who triumphed in the premier class for the first time.

In the overall World Cup standings, Verstappen now leads the 17th of 22 races this season by an unassailable 184 points ahead of his Mexican teammate Sergio Perez, who did not finish the sprint after a crash through no fault of his own with Alpine driver Esteban Ocon and Haas driver Nico Hülkenberg. Two weeks ago, the Austro racing team Red Bull had already secured its second triumph in the constructors' championship in a row in Japan.

Oscar Piastri (front in the McLaren) won the Qatar sprint. © ANSA / ALI HAIDER

Verstappen is the eleventh driver with at least three titles in the premier motorsport class. Only four other racing drivers won three World Cup trophies in a row before him: Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Juan Manuel Fangio. Hamilton and Schumacher are also the record world champions with seven titles each. Will Verstappen make it there one day? “We see what happens year after year,” said Verstappen, who says he is not concerned with such records.

The Verstappen era will continue Given the oppressive superiority in Red Bull and the next major rule reform, there is currently no end to his series of titles in sight. Even though the World Championship has now been decided, the dominator would like to continue winning in the remaining six Grand Prix. “I am very proud to have achieved these things. And I still want to achieve more,” said Verstappen, “It’s all something I would never have thought possible as a small child.”

There won't be a big party on Saturday evening; Verstappen has to get back in the car on Sunday (19.00 p.m.) and is aiming for his 14th victory of the season in the main race on the Arabian Gulf from first place on the grid. His personal best comes from the previous season, in which he triumphed 15 times. He could now significantly exceed this value by the end of the season in Abu Dhabi at the end of November.

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Verstappen secures third world title in Qatar sprint

Max Verstappen is Formula 1 world champion again. The Dutchman secured the title early in the Red Bull and even during the sprint in Qatar.

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