The 26-year-old Dutch star clinches his third title in a 19-lap sprint race in Qatar, with six Grands Prix to spare.
Max Verstappen had an amazing season and won his third Formula One championship in Qatar. He thinks this victory is his best one yet. He won his first title in a tense situation against Lewis Hamilton in 2021. The second time, he won 15 out of 22 races. This third championship came early with six races still left.
Max Verstappen said this championship is his favorite. He came in second in a 19-lap race in Qatar, and his teammate Sergio Perez had a crash. The first championship was the most emotional because it fulfilled his F1 dreams. But this one is special because he had a great year with many wins in a row, and the car was in excellent shape. He’s most proud of this one because of the consistency.
Oscar Piastri, who’s new to this, won the sprint race, which is impressive for a beginner. Even though Verstappen’s title win was the main focus, Lando Norris from McLaren came in third.
Verstappen won 10 races continuously from May in Miami to last month in Singapore. Out of 16 races, he won 13. The only times he didn’t win, he came in second.
When asked about winning more championships, Verstappen mentioned it relies on the car’s performance, but he believes he has several years left to perform at his highest level.
“I’ll decide that, to be honest. It’s more about how long I want to stay in this sport. That’s what matters.”
The 26-year-old Dutch driver expressed immense pride for himself, his family, and the entire team.
He doesn’t know how long this success will continue, but he’s savoring the moment. He feels he’s achieved even more than he could have ever imagined.
Verstappen now stands among a select few drivers who have clinched three consecutive world titles, like Fangio, Schumacher, Vettel, and Hamilton. He’s also part of the esteemed group of three-time champions, including Brabham, Lauda, Piquet, Senna, and Stewart.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner praised Verstappen as the most competitive driver he’s ever witnessed, placing him in the ranks of the sport’s greatest. He believes this season has outshone anything seen before.
Qatar Grand Prix
At the start of this season, Perez looked like a contender against Verstappen, winning two of the first four races. However, he hasn’t won since the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in April.
Piastri, who recently secured his first podium in Japan, won his first F1 race in the sprint, even though it doesn’t officially count as a Grand Prix victory. He admitted it felt a bit odd.
The Qatar venue and sprint format are both new to F1. They were introduced in Verstappen’s championship-winning year in 2021, and he had expressed reservations about sprints in the past.
The FIA, which oversees F1, mentioned that it might require at least three pit stops for tire changes due to concerns about Pirelli tires being damaged on the sharp “pyramid” kerbs in Qatar. The track was also adjusted to prevent cars from going too wide over the kerbs. A final decision about Sunday’s race will be made after studying the tires used on Saturday.
Being a three-time champion, Verstappen faces the challenge of enjoying the victory while preparing for Sunday’s race. He’ll be at the front, starting from pole position.
When asked how he’d celebrate, Verstappen jokingly said he’d have a number of sparkling waters tonight, but emphasized that he’ll be back on track tomorrow.
SOURCE:ALJAZEERA