Verstappen, three-time world champion with the Qatar sprint

Red Bull's third title with six races remaining

Sainz and Alonso, sixth and ninth on Saturday in Lusail

The Dutch Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen (Red Bull) was proclaimed world champion this Saturday for the third time, during the sprint of the Qatar Grand Prix, where the Spaniards Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) suffered with the soft tires in the final part, sixth and ninth.

Verstappen took the title with six races left in the Championship, including this Sunday in Lusail. The Dutchman was champion on Saturday when his teammate Sergio Pérez went off the track on lap 11. His only and very distant rival had to finish on the podium to extend the score.

The champion defended his title to join Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, ​​Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna with three on his record. 'Mad Max' was second in the Qatar sprint behind Oscar Piastri's McLaren, while Lando Norris' other orange car completed the podium after a bad start and a great comeback with a medium tire that finished better than the soft one. .

The RB23 dominated from the beginning, from the Sakhir tests, to be a record champion, waiting for what he can achieve with the title in his pocket and six more races. The Dutchman won the last World Cup with an iron fist, with 15 victories, and in this current edition, the new F1, there was no such change at the top.

Ferrari disappointed and Mercedes did not have the continuity in its resurgence, with Red Bull dominating almost every weekend. That first title that was played in one lap with Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi, has given way to a total dominance of a Verstappen who, at 26 years old, is beginning to draw comparisons with Michael Schumacher.

The new 24-race World Championship fell short for a champion who devoured with 13 victories in 16 races. The 400 points in his locker left the 'Great Circus' without emotion, with the only pursuer a 'Checo' Pérez who was really no rival. Verstappen took advantage of the first 'championship ball' in a sprint marked by three safety cars, which were regrouping the race.

The MacLarens confirmed their move to the front and, despite a poor start from Norris, both managed to finish on the podium. At the beginning and with those yellow flags, the soft one benefited George Russell (Mercedes) or Carlos Sainz, but the medium ended up fighting for the last overtakes, in a sprint that lived up to its name but had excitement in those position changes.

In the first four laps there were two safety cars and, on lap 11, the triple accident occurred in which Pérez was involved: the red carpet for the champion. Piastri achieved his first victory in F1 while Verstappen overtook a Russel who had been asking for time for a while, he also passed a Norris like crazy towards the podium, when he came to lead the race.

The Briton finished fourth, with Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton fifth, winning another battle for the Constructors' runner-up spot over Ferrari. The 'Scuderia' was a want and I can't, with Sainz strong in the first laps but without options due to grip problems on a Lusail that, with the new asphalt and the desert sand, gave no respite outside its good line. Charles Leclerc finished seventh behind the Spaniard.

For his part, Alonso, who also seemed destined to give Verstappen a fight, finished ninth. Aston Martin will not end the year as it began, chasing Red Bull and cheering the World Cup in the first weekends, although the magic of the Asturian is willing to squeeze his car in the most difficult conditions and in search of points, of which distribute more on Sunday.