Max Verstappen can rating his third drivers’ championship victory earlier than the Qatar Grand Prix.
The Pink Bull driver’s factors lead following his thirteenth victory of the season right now means he can clinch the title within the dash race on the Losail International Circuit in two weeks’ time.
Whereas Verstappen romped to victory from pole place his solely remaining championship rival, staff mate Sergio Perez, suffered a horrible race. Already on the again foot after breaking his entrance wing in a first-lap collision with Lewis Hamilton, Perez then crashed into Kevin Magnussen, damaging his entrance wing once more, and subsequently retired from the race.
Verstappen subsequently leads the drivers’ championship by 177 factors with 180 accessible over the remaining six rounds. Three of these rounds embody dash races and subsequently supply an additional eight factors on high of the 25 for a grand prix win and bonus level for quickest lap.
As Verstappen has already ensured he’ll win extra races than any driver this 12 months, he would win the championship if the pair ended the season tied on the high of the standings. Subsequently he solely must out-score Perez by three factors on the subsequent race to safe the title.
Verstappen will try this if he finishes not less than sixth within the dash race and Perez finishes not less than three positions behind him. Which means if Verstappen wins the dash race, he’ll safe the title if Perez finishes fourth or decrease.
No driver has beforehand clinched the world championship in a dash race. The format was launched in 2021 when three dash races had been held, every awarding simply three factors to the winner. Their worth was elevated to eight factors final 12 months, with every subsequent place awarding one level much less, right down to a single level for eighth place.
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