Red Bull’s Max Verstappen already had his third Formula 1 championship in the bag before the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday. But that didn’t stop him from going at full speed and clinching yet another win this season.
Verstappen finished first in the sprint race on Saturday, securing enough points to win the 2023 F1 Championship even before the Qatar GP even started. He then started the race from the pole position and didn’t look back, crossing the finishing line 4.83 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Lando Norris, the second McLaren’s driver, finished third.
The win at Qatar GP was Verstappen’s 14th this season. There are still five Formula 1 races left in 2023, and the 26-year-old Dutchman doesn’t seem like he will take his foot off the gas. He intends to continue pushing for wins and has a chance to top his 2022 record of 15 wins in a single F1 season.
“We will enjoy it a little, but there are still quite a few races out there that we want to win!” said Verstappen after the Qatar GP.
Besides serving as Verstappen’s winning lap, Qatar GP also saw some drama. Starting the race behind Verstappen, Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton crashed in the opening lap while trying to take the lead. This ended up with Hamilton being knocked out of the race and Russell having to work his way into the race to finish fourth.
