Red Bull's Max Verstappen claims World Championship hat-trick at 2023 Qatar Grand Prix Sprint Race

Max Verstappen completed a Formula 1 World Championship hat-trick with Red Bull at the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint Race on Saturday, won by McLaren's Oscar Piastri.

Securing the title for the Dutchman appeared inevitable long ago in the season as his team set the pace from the off, and with Sergio Perez as his team-mate, the pair had already won the constructors’ championship.

He needed to finish sixth or higher on Saturday to become champion once again. Piastri started from pole after the shootout, while Verstappen found himself in third, on the second row.

Piastri held onto the lead at the start, but Liam Lawson went off the track, bringing out a safety car, and Verstappen dropped down to fifth.

As the safety car pulled in, Russell was prepared to act and swept into the lead ahead of the Australian, and then on lap four, Logan Sargeant went off into the gravel, and another safety car was needed.

At the halfway point, Piastri’s quicker medium tyres cut down Russell’s lead and DRS allowed him to take back his lead.

Moments later, Perez the latest driver to hit the gravel, and as the safety car came out, it became clear Verstappen would be a champion once more.

Verstappen moved into second spot as Russell's soft tyres started to wear down further, and Piastri held on for his first Formula 1 win, with Lando Norris taking third.

Speaking after the race, Verstappen celebrated his achievement, saying: "Of course it's a fantastic feeling, it's been an incredible year and lots of great races and I feel super proud and super proud of the job of the team.

"It's been so enjoyable to be part of that group of people and to be three time world champion is just incredible."

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