Max Verstappen clinches the three-time championship in the Qatar sprint; Checo Pérez scores no points.
Max Verstappen, the driver, secures his third championship title as Checo Pérez fails to score any points in the Qatar sprint.
Another milestone in Verstappen’s career is achieved.
Conversely, Checo Pérez had a forgettable day, once again facing misfortune in a collision.
Despite Oscar Piastri winning the Qatar sprint, the celebration belonged to Red Bull and Max Verstappen.
Qatar Sprint Race
The start of the Qatar sprint race didn’t bode well for the reigning champion Max Verstappen, nor for the Mexican driver Checo Pérez. In a race where Oscar Piastri managed to maintain the lead initially, George Russell eventually claimed the top spot after a Safety Car period.
The first yellow flag came after a collision that forced Liam Lawson out of the race. Later, another Safety Car period, with Logan Sargeant as the central figure, unfolded.
This new Safety Car favored Russell in his quest to maintain the lead in the 19-lap Qatar sprint race.
As time passed, Checo Pérez struggled to advance and remained in 11th place, well out of contention for points. Verstappen, who was aiming for the championship, held onto fifth place. It’s worth noting that the Safety Car benefits those on soft tires since they don’t experience as much wear.
Many drivers complained about the slippery track surface, causing imbalance and reduced control during braking. Meanwhile, the Ferrari drivers held third and fourth positions, with the Spaniard briefly on the podium.
At that moment, the positive aspect was that Hamilton lagged behind Checo Pérez in the battle for the runner-up position, although they were very close. Veteran Fernando Alonso occupied seventh place in a race marked by his cautious approach.
In the meantime, Max Verstappen easily passed Charles Leclerc as the champion pursued the six points necessary to secure the title. Checo Pérez managed to overtake Pierre Gasly, but scoring points wouldn’t be easy.
Oscar Piastri did what was necessary to overtake Russell. However, a collision between Checo Pérez and Nico Hülkenberg resulted in the Mexican driver’s exit from the Qatar sprint. It was a tense moment as rescue teams rushed to extinguish the fire, with Pérez’s car sustaining the most damage, jeopardizing his Sunday race.
The collision was provoked by Esteban Ocon in a rather unsportsmanlike maneuver. It was a tough break for Checo Pérez, but this incident crowned Max Verstappen as the new champion.
With 7 laps remaining, another Safety Car period meant it was only a matter of time before the Dutchman secured another title in his career. Furthermore, he managed to overtake Russell, who struggled to fend off the Red Bull car.
The race entered a controlled phase, while Hamilton earned points by passing Fernando Alonso and narrowing the gap with Checo Pérez in the overall standings. Fernando Alonso continued to lose positions and was overtaken by Ocon.
To cap it off, Max Verstappen set the fastest lap time in the Qatar sprint race. Hamilton made a remarkable comeback and finished in fifth place, thanks to a clever strategy.
That was the finish of the Qatar sprint race:
- Piastri, McLaren
- Verstappen, Red Bull
- Norris, McLaren
- Russell, Mercedes
- Hamilton, Mercedes
- Sainz, Ferrari
- Leclerc, Ferrari
- Albon, Williams
- Alonso, Aston Martin
- Gasly, Alpine
Also read: The Qatar GP qualifying: Verstappen takes pole, and Checo in 13th place.
