Verstappen's impressive 26-point haul at Suzuka, including the bonus for the fastest lap, and his teammate Sergio Perez's retirement, have paved the way for the drivers’ championship to be settled as early as the Sprint race at the Lusail International Circuit.
Verstappen's 13th win of the season has catapulted him to 400 points, a staggering 177 points ahead of Perez, who holds a mere 223 points. With only 180 points up for grabs across the final six rounds of the season, which includes three Sprints, Verstappen's lead seems almost insurmountable.
The Qatar Grand Prix: A Decisive Weekend
The Qatar Grand Prix, being one of the Sprint rounds, offers a total of 34 points over the course of the weekend. This includes eight points for the winner in the 100-kilometre dash, 25 for victory in the main event, and one for setting the fastest lap.
In simple terms, if Verstappen leaves Qatar with a lead of 146 points or more over Perez, he will be crowned the champion for a third successive season. This holds true even if Perez wins the Sprint race, as Verstappen can secure the title by finishing sixth or higher.
Perez's Uphill Battle
For Perez to remain mathematically in contention, he needs to finish at least third, with Verstappen also encountering some form of setback. Even in the scenario where Perez wins the Sprint and Verstappen fails to score, Verstappen would still only need an eighth-place finish in the Grand Prix itself to be crowned champion once again, regardless of Perez’s result.
The only way Perez can extend the championship battle beyond Qatar is by winning the race and reducing Verstappen’s championship advantage to 145 points. However, even if the pair end up tied on 146, Verstappen would still clinch the title due to his far superior number of race wins.
Conclusion
The upcoming Qatar Grand Prix promises to be a thrilling event for Formula 1 fans, with the potential for Verstappen to secure his third consecutive drivers' title. Regardless of the outcome, the 2023 F1 season has been a testament to Verstappen's dominance and Red Bull's continued success in the sport.
