(Losail) Max Verstappen secured a third consecutive Formula 1 title on Saturday, capping a season in which the Red Bull driver has dominated in almost total fashion.
He obtained recognition by finishing second in the sprint which took place as part of the Qatar Grand Prix.
His teammate Sergio Perez, the only one who could join him in the standings, saw his race end when he was hit by the car of Esteban Ocon, from Alpine.
Verstappen started third. He was fifth after one lap, before starting to take things into his own hands.
Perez was battling with Ocon and the Haas car of Nico Hulkenberg midway through the event. Ocon hit a Hulkenberg wheel and crashed into Perez on the outside, after which both cars got stuck off the track.
The sprint was won by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who had the leading position.
Verstappen ruled the roost, winning 10 races in a row (a Formula 1 record) from May to September.
Canadian Lance Stroll finished 13th with Aston Marton, having placed 16th in qualifying.
In sprint qualifying Piastri, an Australian rookie, beat teammate Lando Norris by .0082 seconds. Verstappen finished third, 0192 behind Piastri.
Norris looked to have the pace to beat Piastri on the final lap, but he went too wide on the final corner.
The start of the session was delayed by 20 minutes. Extra 10-minute practice runs were also added, following concerns that the circuit’s “pyramid” curbs were causing tire damage during Friday practice.
The FIA said it would analyze the tires used on Saturday and if the situation did not improve it could force drivers to make at least three pit stops on Sunday, to prevent them from running on older, worn tires .
The drivers used the curbs a lot on Friday and Saturday when they moved out of the corners, to maintain more speed.
Several times were deleted on Friday and Saturday, because the drivers had put all four wheels off the track.
In the last session, this was the case for Verstappen, Perez, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), in particular.
Max Verstappen, crowned champion for the third time in a row, sets a series of records in the premier class of motorsport, and could still beat others by the end of the season:
