Max Verstappen clinched his third consecutive world title on Saturday when he completed second behind rookie Oscar Piastri in an incident-filled dash race on the Qatar Grand Prix, describing his success as “fantastic”.
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It was a positive maiden Formula One victory for Australian 22-year-old Piastri, however his feat was overshadowed by Verstappen’s achievement, the Dutchman having required solely three factors to take the title.
His solely rival and Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez was concerned in a collision and retired, making him the primary “Saturday champion” since Nelson Piquet, father of his girlfriend Kelly, in South Africa in 1983.
“I don’t know what to say. Incredible year. Thank you for providing me with such a car. It has been a pleasure so far this year,” 26-year-old Verstappen instructed his staff over the automotive radio.
Red Bull staff boss Christian Horner described the Dutchman as “phenomenal” and “out of this world”.
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Piastri’s win was McLaren’s first since Daniel Ricciardo triumphed for them on the 2021 Italian Grand Prix and it was solely the second time this season that Red Bull had been defeated.
Verstappen gained the title with six races remaining within the season, the best margin since 2002 when Michael Schumacher was champion for Ferrari.
His title win enabled him to affix a uncommon membership for three-time champions alongside Jack Brabham, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna and Jackie Stewart – and an much more elite group of these to have gained three in a row, Juan Manuel Fangio, Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton.
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“This has been a fantastic feeling and it has been a fantastic year. We have had some great races and I am super proud of the team job and it is so enjoyable to be a part of this group of people. To win three times is incredible,” added Verstappen.
He stated that he had no information in sight as targets, however needed to proceed racing and profitable.
“We’ll keep on pushing and doing the best we can.”
Verstappen, who will begin Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix from pole place, has an unassailable 184-point lead with six races left within the season.
Piastri stated: “I am very happy but that was a stressful race. We did a great job.”
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His McLaren team-mate Lando Norris got here house third forward of Mercedes’ George Russell and Hamilton with the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc sixth and seventh.
Alex Albon of Williams was eighth, two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin ninth and Pierre Gasly of Alpine tenth.
After a sweltering day, the dash race began in heat circumstances underneath floodlights on the Lusail International Circuit, Piastri making a superb begin to pull clear as team-mate Norris was engaged by a cluster of skirmishes behind him.
Norris dropped from second to sixth whereas Russell went by way of to second forward of the 2 Ferraris with Verstappen fifth earlier than Liam Lawson ran off-track in a cloud of mud, prompting a security automotive intervention.
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On re-start, a fiery Alonso pressurised Norris in a wheel-to-wheel battle whereas Piastri ran vast and allowed Russell by way of to guide. Logan Sargeant then spun off in his Williams to deliver one other security automotive interval.
Piastri had chosen medium compound tyres whereas Russell, Sainz and Leclerc had been all on softs, giving them an early benefit in grip.
Verstappen, in fifth as the security automotive led into lap six of the 19-lap race, was comfy within the information that he was heading in the right direction to clinch his third title by ending within the prime six.
As lap seven started and the security automotive went in, Russell stormed right into a 1.4 seconds lead forward of Piastri, who was keeping off assaults from Sainz, hoping that his medium tyres would show extra sturdy within the closing levels.
Perez and Verstappen then started to indicate Red Bull’s pace, the Mexican transferring as much as tenth by passing Pierre Gasly and the Dutchman sweeping previous each Ferraris in succession on the straight to take third.
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On lap 10, Piastri regained the lead, blasting previous Russell on the straight whereas Norris overtook Leclerc for fifth as Perez was entangled in a collision with Esteban Ocon and Nico Hulkenberg, the Mexican spinning throughout the gravel and out of the race.
Perez was unable to attain factors and successfully ended his final mathematical hopes for the title, as one other security automotive intervention started, Verstappen being assured of his third crown.
As the racing re-started, on lap 16, it was clear the Dutchman had no intention of taking a third title with no win as he handed Russell down the within of Turn One to take second and start his pursuit of Piastri.
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
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