How Max Verstappen can win his third world title in Qatar

The Red Bull driver has been the dominant force this season, claiming victory in 13 out of the 15 races, including two out of three sprint races. His most recent win was in Japan, and his only failure to finish on the podium in 2023 occurred due to a mysterious drop in performance in Singapore.

Despite that, Verstappen has amassed a total of 400 points, putting him 177 points ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez, with 180 points remaining to be earned.

To secure his third consecutive world title, Verstappen only needs to accumulate three more points between the Qatar Grand Prix and the season’s conclusion in Abu Dhabi.

Historical trends indicate that these points will likely come in the next race, the Saturday sprint race, covering a distance of 100 kilometers at the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar. Verstappen needs to finish sixth or higher in this sprint race, regardless of Perez’s position, to clinch the championship.

In an unlikely scenario, a seventh-place finish would suffice if Perez finishes second, and an eighth-place finish would also secure the title if Perez takes third place.

Interestingly, Verstappen could secure the championship without scoring any points himself. If Perez finishes fourth or lower in the sprint race, Verstappen will become the champion, regardless of his own sprint race finish.

Even if Perez wins the sprint race and Verstappen doesn’t score any points in the sprint, Verstappen can still be crowned champion if he finishes eighth or higher in the following Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday.

Verstappen will also be crowned champion if he holds a points lead of 146 points or more after the Qatar Grand Prix.

The Qatar Grand Prix for the 2023 season is scheduled from Friday, October 6th, to Sunday, October 8th. The event marks F1’s return to Lusail, Qatar, for the first time since its inaugural race in 2021. The schedule includes the first practice on Friday at 2:30 pm (BST), followed by qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix at 6:00 pm.

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