Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar at Lusail International Circuit on October 06, 2023 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
LUSAIL, Qatar – Two weeks following his dominating performance during the entire Japanese Grand Prix weekend that saw Red Bull Racing secure the 2023 World Constructors Championship, Max Verstappen now turns to the Lusail International Circuit for the Qatar Grand Prix in what is his first proper chance to be able to secure his third consecutive World Drivers Championship.
The weekend schedule for the Qatar Grand Prix is different than usual as it is a return to the Sprint Race format, one of three in the season’s final six races. That said, there is only a singular round of practice before the Grand Prix qualifying round to set the grid for Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix.
In the setting sun, the track finally went green for the lone practice session of the weekend as teams could finally take to the track on a newly resurfaced Lusail International Circuit compared to their last visit in 2021, albeit quite dusty. With that in mind, it made for some tricky conditions to start things off as drivers worked on finding the best grip in the heat.
Before the final runs of practice in qualifying trim started, it looked like the McLaren racing duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris led the way. However, once teams turned their attention to running simulated runs for the upcoming qualifying session, which is when Verstappen and Red Bull shined.
Once the 60 minutes expired, it was Verstappen at the top of the timing sheets with the Ferrari pair of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc right behind. The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso found himself with the fourth quickest time of the session, while the other Red Bull of Sergio Perez rounded out the top five.
Now that the only practice was completed, all attention turned to qualifying for the Grand Prix.
The story of the Grand Prix qualifying rounds was once again the bane of track limits. With the slippery conditions and drivers attempting to gain as much as they could on track, they pushed the boundaries and tried to not draw the ire of race control is what was seen in the qualifying rounds.
The lights turned green on the pit lane and teams were greeted with much different conditions than they had faced not long before during the lone practice session. The hot air was met with cooler temperatures, aligning with what teams and drivers would face coming to the Sprint Race and the Grand Prix.
While some drivers such as Norris and Leclerc would set the benchmark early, they, along with drivers such as Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, Williams’ Alex Albon and Haas’ Kevin Magnussen all had their fastest times deleted. In the closing moments of the session, drivers returned to the track with new tires and Verstappen returned to the top of the timing sheets to stake a firm claim as the fastest time of the first round of qualifying.
But it was the end of the road for five drivers. The Alfa Romeo of Zhou Guanyu was joined with Magnussen, the AlphaTauri of Liam Lawson, a displeased Stroll and a heartbreaking moment as the Williams of Logan Sargeant missed the second round at the last second.
Teams then focused on the second qualifying round with even more action expected.
Track evolution was the story in the second round that saw a surprising jump in speed from the Mercedes, as Lewis Hamilton found himself at the top of the timing sheets with Verstappen nipping at his heels, reminiscent of 2021. Meanwhile, track limits were once again the story of the session as the other Red Bull of Sergio Perez found himself on the outside looking in, once again being knocked out of a chance to go for the pole position.
Perez was joined by the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg, the Williams of Alex Albon, a surprising elimination from the Ferrari of Sainz and the AlphaTauri of Yuki Tsunoda. With that, the stage was set for the final round to set the grid for the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday.
Sparks fly behind Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar at Lusail International Circuit on October 06, 2023 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
As soon as the light turned green on pit lane, it was immediately Verstappen setting an almost impossible benchmark time with him nearly a half a second ahead of his closest competitor in Hamilton at the end of his first run. Norris almost had a time that would’ve set him in second, but running wide had his time deleted. With the benchmark set, it was time for one last run to close the gap to the dominant Red Bull.
Verstappen set off early to get his second-timed lap of the session in. However, he aborted the lap as he went wide and didn’t want to risk having the time deleted. But to his luck, his first timed lap was enough to secure him the pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix. Norris was once again set to possibly take the second fastest time, but he again went wide and had his time deleted, dropping him down to 10th. And it was a double heartbreak for McLaren as Piastri, set to start third, had his own fastest time deleted, dropping him down the order as well.
So for Sunday, Verstappen line up on the pole, with the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Hamilton starting second and third behind him. Alonso lined up to begin fourth with Leclerc in his Ferrari, rounding out the top five. The Alpines of Gasly and Esteban Ocon, and a surprising appearance in the final round of qualifying with the Alfa Romeo of Valtteri Bottas slotting between the McLarens of Piastri and Norris.
All eyes now turn to Saturday for the Sprint Shootout and the Sprint Race. Saturday’s Sprint Race is also the first time this season that Max Verstappen has the opportunity to secure his third consecutive World Drivers Championship. According to calculations, Max Verstappen has to finish at least sixth in the Sprint Race to make it mathematically impossible for his Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, to beat him in the points.
