Oscar Piastri Shines in Sprint Race as Max Verstappen Wins World Drivers Championship

Sprint winner Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren, 2nd placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and third placed Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren pose for a photo with their trophies and Stefano Domenicali, CEO of the Formula One Group, and Mohammed ben Sulayem, FIA President, in parc ferme after the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar at Lusail International Circuit on October 07, 2023 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

LUSAIL, Qatar – With Friday’s singular practice completed and the qualifying for Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix set aside, all focus turned to the Sprint Shootout and Sprint Race at the Lusail International Circuit. Championship leader Max Verstappen was set up to be the 2023 World Drivers Champion. Still, a spotlight also shined on McLaren as its improvements through the year have seemingly fallen into place.

Tire wear became a quick concern for teams, drivers, Formula 1 and Pirelli itself following the Friday sessions after a review of tires coming off of the cars that gave some problems, especially from the pyramid-styled curbing that circulates the track along with redefined track limits in Turns 12 and 13. Because of this, it was announced that teams would get a 10-minute “practice” to familiarize themselves with the track, as Pirelli hoped the later Sprint Race would give it enough information on the tires.

Finally, after the mini-practice session, teams were prepared for the Sprint Shootout. Going on the mandated medium compound tires for the first two rounds of qualifying, Verstappen took his Red Bull to the top of the charts once the lights turned green on the pit lane. Once again, track limits dominated the session as multiple drivers, such as Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, had their first times deleted.

It soon became a battle for those who had their first times deleted to attempt to make their way into the second round. As times clicked down, while Verstappen and the McLaren of Norris were sitting in the garage happy with their times, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll hoped to turn a dreadful Friday around. Sadly, he was bumped out of the first round along with the Williams pair of Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant, the AlphaTauri of Yuki Tsunoda, and the Haas of Kevin Magnussen.

Attention then turned to the second round as the lights went back green. Verstappen and Norris ran a singular run, which saw the McLaren on top while drivers worked to ensure they could stay between the lines and not receive the wrath of the race stewards. However, some drivers weren’t lucky. Hamilton and the Alfa Romeo of Zhou Guanyu had their fastest time deleted and were not quick enough to make it out of the second round.

Joining Hamilton and Guanyu was the other Alfa Romeo of Valtteri Bottas, the AlphaTauri of Liam Lawson and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly.

The moment @OscarPiastri became the first rookie #F1Sprint Pole-sitter! 👌🧡#QatarGP 🇶🇦

pic.twitter.com/emGqRjeyle

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) October 7, 2023

Now, for all the marbles, teams were ready to hit the track for the final round once the pit lights went green. Immediately, Verstappen set a quick lap as an early benchmark before that lap was deleted for track limits, putting the McLaren pair of Oscar Piastri and Norris at the top of the sheets. It already seemed to be a three-horse race for the Sprint Race pole.

On their second run, Piastri was the first to clock in a time, ahead of his teammate, who had a moment in the final corner, while Verstappen was just a couple of tenths off. No one else could come close to the rookie McLaren driver as Piastri hung onto the top of the time sheets with his teammate beside him.

George Russell in the remaining Mercedes grabbed a respectable fourth with the Ferrari duo crossing the line with Carlos Sainz picking up the fifth fastest time and Leclerc picking up the sixth fastest. In his Haas, Nico Hulkenberg picked up the seventh fastest time while the other Red Bull of Sergio Perez, Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso and the Alpine of Esteban Ocon closed out the top 10.

2023 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates with Sprint winner Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren in Parc Ferme during the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar at Lusail International Circuit on October 07, 2023, in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Finally, the grid was cleared, and the tire covers were removed from the cars, giving everyone a look into the strategy. The McLarens of Piastri and Norris and Red Bull’s Verstappen looked to be taking the more conservative approach and using Medium compound tires for the Sprint race. At the same time, Mercedes had Russell and the Ferraris of Sainz and Leclerc looking for the more aggressive strategy of starting on the Soft compound tires, mirroring a split choice almost all down the field.

Following the formation lap, the lights finally went out for 19 laps of Sprint Race action, with Piastri getting off the line cleanly. At the same time, his teammates Norris and Verstappen had gotten swamped by the Soft tire runners of Russell, Sainz, and Leclerc, sending them down the order. But that action was short-lived as the AlphaTauri of Lawson found himself off-track and into the gravel in the second turn, quickly sending out the Safety Car for the first time.

But it wasn’t that long before the track went green with Russell on the gearbox of Piastri. Soon, using the gripper Soft tires, Russell took the lead from the Rookie in hopes of setting off and holding onto the lead. But that was once again short-lived as the Williams of Sargeant went off at Turn 8, bringing out the SC again. However, those starting on the Soft tires started to run into issues soon due to the quick degradation of the tires.

The SC was cleared, and Russell happened to time his restart almost to perfection as he pulled out to an impressive lead on Piastri. But it wasn’t lengthy as those on the Medium tires could race come to them. Verstappen worked his way past the Ferraris, taking advantage of the Red Bull’s impressive Drag Reduction System efficiency, bringing him into third. At the same time, Piastri quickly worked on the Mercedes of Russell to take back the lead in the Sprint Race.

Three cars don't go into one! 😱#QatarGP #F1Sprint pic.twitter.com/zsjs6C7SkR

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 7, 2023

But the chaos was not done once again. Going into the second turn running three abreast, the Red Bull of Perez, Haas of Hulkenberg and the Alpine of Ocon all got together, sending them into the gravel, ending the day for all three drivers. The SC was deployed for the third time. Russell, who had started to lose spots because of his tires, called his pit box for a new set. However, he was kept on track because the risk of losing points was too high.

On Lap 14, the SC was once again returned to the pits, and Piastri could hold onto the lead as Verstappen tried to make his way to the lead. Within a lap, Verstappen could dispatch Russell on the front stretch as the Soft tire runners were starting to struggle even more as Norris worked on trying to make his way to the podium and Hamilton tried to turn around his disappointing Sprint Shootout run.

Points&
Podium&
Pole&
P1&
Piastri.

What a stunning rookie season from @OscarPiastri 😍#QatarGP #F1Sprint pic.twitter.com/3TEM5nhYpY

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 7, 2023

While Verstappen was lighting up the timing sheets, Piastri could do what he needed. He crossed the line for his first Formula 1 event win of his career and first for McLaren since Daniel Ricciardo’s Italian Grand Prix win in 2021. Behind him came the newly crowned three-time World Champion Verstappen, having done what he needed to do especially with Perez crashing out of the race. Closing out the podium came the other McLaren of Norris, closing out a stellar day for the resurgent team.

2023 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates on his car in parc ferme after the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar at Lusail International Circuit on October 07, 2023 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

The Mercedes duo of Russell and Hamilton rounded out the top five as the latter did excellent work through the field. Sainz held onto sixth place while the Williams of Albon and the Aston Martin of Alonso were moved up into the remaining two points-paying spots after the Ferrari driver of Leclerc was handed a five-second time penalty for exceeding track limits more than the allotted amount.

Leclerc fell to 12th, behind the Alpine of Gasly, the Alfa Romeo of Bottas and the AlphaTauri of Tsunoda. The Haas of Magnussen, the Alfa Romeo of Guanyu and the Aston Martin of the Stroll were rounding out the drivers running at the end of the race.

Although the World Drivers Championship is locked up, there is still a Grand Prix on Sunday, with the Qatar Grand Prix ahead of the drivers and teams. Second place in the drivers and constructors standings is still up for grabs, while the dominant Red Bull team and Verstappen still look to keep winning as the season runs out.