2023 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix highlights

Oracle Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen wrapped up his Formula One world title-winning weekend at the 2023 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix with a dominant drive around the Losail Circuit to comfortably lead home McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris and record his 14th victory of the season.

The Dutch driver secured his third consecutive Drivers’ Championship title by finishing second in Saturday’s sprint race behind Piastri and joined a select group of drivers that includes Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda and Nelson Piquet on three F1 world titles.

Victory in the sprint also allowed Verstappen to equal Michael Schumacher’s record of winning the F1 crown with six races still to be completed.

Verstappen and the Oracle Red Bull Racing team couldn’t celebrate too hard with Sunday’s main race still to run, and they carried on where they left off at the previous race in Japan with a dominant victory from pole position.

Despite the complications of a mandatory 18-lap tyre use limit being placed on teams due to degradation concerns on the new Losail Circuit surface, Verstappen controlled the race masterfully to secure victory over sprint winner Piastri by 4.833s, with Norris 5.969s behind Verstappen in third.

Victory in Qatar marked Verstappen’s 14th race win from the 17 races so far in 2023. Oracle Red Bull Racing, already the Constructors’ Championship winners this year, have also won all but one Grands Prix to date, the Singapore Grand Prix. The team has now won the Drivers’ and Constructors’ double for the sixth time.

After crashing out of Saturday’s sprint race, team-mate Sergio Pérez had a difficult day again in the second Oracle Red Bull racing RB19 and finished in the final points-scoring position in 10th.

Max Verstappen, Driver, Red Bull Racing

We had a really good race today. I think what really made it for me was the first stint, where we were strong and good on the tyres. I had a slow stop at the end, so the McLarens were quite close at the chequered flag, but they have been quick all weekend. Of course, with the mandatory three stops, we weren’t able to get the best out of our car as we are good on tyres, but we won, and that’s the main thing. My hunger for winning hasn’t stopped since winning the championship, I want to keep going and maximising the performance of the car each weekend.

Sergio Pérez, Driver, Red Bull Racing:

It was a difficult afternoon. Starting on the hard tyre really complicated things for us, especially with the early Safety Car. It meant we couldn’t warm up the tyres, and then we ended up losing positions and couldn’t make progress quickly enough and as much as we should have. By the time I got the temperature in the tyres, we had to pit due to the mandatory pit stops. We lost our car yesterday due to the incident in the Sprint, and we had a completely new car for today. It was, therefore, very difficult to draw conclusions with the car we had. We had to revert to the specifications. I really suffered with the new track limits, they were brought in very last minute, which I don’t think is right, but it is the same for everyone, and I should have done a better job. It was hard for me to judge them inside the car because I think, a little like in Austria, I’m sitting a bit too low, and that made things harder. I should have maybe altered that when the changes were implemented. Overall, we have plenty to look at, and I will be in the factory this week working hard with my team.

CHRISTIAN HORNER – CEO and Team Principal, Red Bull Racing

For Max, it was an incredible win. It’s been a very tough race, both physically and mentally, for all the drivers. In a race that was very prescriptive and sub-optimal to the fastest race, Max drove well and was very controlled, trying to manage the tyres. Having an enforced three-stop was not the fastest way to run that race, so it was a case of making sure we covered off the Safety Car possibilities and managed the deg, but the strategy team did their work, got their sums right and helped deliver the victory. For Checo, it was another tough race. The 15 seconds of penalties really impacted his overall performance and meant a missed opportunity to capitalise on points with Lewis out of the race. Checo just needs to get that form back that he had at the beginning of the season, and we know he can do it. He knows he can do it. He has our full support. We head west now and to the Americas, where Checo drives well, so we look forward to some stronger performances in the quest for second place.

Red Bull Racing Honda best pictures:

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR – OCTOBER 07: Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing prepares to drive in the garage prior to the Sprint ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail International Circuit on October 07, 2023 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202310070445 // Usage for editorial use only //

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR – OCTOBER 07: 2023 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates with his team in parc ferme after the Sprint ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail International Circuit on October 07, 2023 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202310070514 // Usage for editorial use only //

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR – OCTOBER 07: 2023 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing poses for a photo with Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner after the Sprint ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail International Circuit on October 07, 2023 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202310070649 // Usage for editorial use only //

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR – OCTOBER 08: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 on track during the 2023 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail International Circuit on October 08, 2023 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202310080460 // Usage for editorial use only //

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR – OCTOBER 08: Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium during the 2023 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail International Circuit on October 08, 2023 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202310080541 // Usage for editorial use only //

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR – OCTOBER 08: Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates with his team in the Pitlane after the 2023 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail International Circuit on October 08, 2023 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202310080607 // Usage for editorial use only //

1. Previous
2. 1
3. 2
4. 3
5. 4
6. 5
7. 6
8. 7
9. 8
10. 9
11. 10
12. 11
13. Next