F1 qualifying results: Max Verstappen on pole in Qatar ahead of ...
Formula 1 will likely crown its 2023 world drivers’ champion this weekend at the Qatar Grand Prix.
Two-time defending champion Max Verstappen only needs to secure three points out of a possible 34 over the weekend to win his third straight title. Verstappen enters with a staggering 177-point lead over Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez. Red Bull clinched the constructors’ championship two weeks ago in Japan.
If he fails to outscore Perez in the Sprint on Saturday, Verstappen has an excellent chance in the Grand Prix, having qualified on pole, whereas his teammate starts P13.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix:
Qatar Grand Prix qualifying resultsMax Verstappen (1), Red Bull-Honda RBPT
George Russell (63), Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton (44), Mercedes
Fernando Alonso (14), Aston Martin-Mercedes
Charles Leclerc (16), Ferrari
Oscar Piastri (81), McLaren-Mercedes
Pierre Gasly (10), Alpine-Renault
Esteban Ocon (31), Alpine-Renault
Valtteri Bottas (77), Alfa Romeo-Ferrari
Lando Norris (4), McLaren-Mercedes
Yuki Tsunoda (22), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT
Carlos Sainz (55), Ferrari
Sergio Perez (11), Red Bull-Honda RBPT
Alexander Albon (23), Williams-Mercedes
Nico Hulkenberg, (27), Haas-Ferrari
Logan Sargeant (2), Williams-Mercedes
Lance Stroll (18), Aston Martin-Mercedes
Liam Lawson (40), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT
Kevin Magnussen (20), Haas-Ferrari
Zhou Guanyu (24), Alfa Romeo-Ferrari
Qatar Grand Prix TV/streaming scheduleAll times Eastern
Friday9:25 - 10:30 a.m.: Free practice 1 (ESPN2, ESPN+, F1 TV Pro)12:55 - 2 p.m.: Qualifying (ESPN2, ESPN+, F1 TV Pro)
Saturday8:55 - 10 a.m.: Sprint Shootout (ESPN2, ESPN+, F1 TV Pro)1:25 - 2:30 p.m.: Sprint (ESPNNews, ESPN+, F1 TV Pro)
Sunday11:30 a.m. - 12:55 p.m.: Pre-race show (ESPN2, ESPN+, F1 TV Pro)12:55 - 3 p.m.: Qatar Grand Prix (ESPN, ESPN+, F1 TV Pro)
Qatar Grand Prix detailsTrack: Lusail International Circuit, 3.637-mile, 16 turn permanent racing facilityRace length: 57 laps for 191.761 milesLap record: N/A (configuration changed from 2021 race)Tire compounds: C1 (Hard), C2 (Medium), C3 (Soft)2021 winner: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
Daniel Ricciardo out for Qatar Grand PrixAlphaTauri’s Daniel Ricciardo will miss a fifth straight grand prix with several fractures in his left hand — injuries he suffered during practice ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix on Aug. 25. Liam Lawson, as he has since the Dutch GP weekend, will pilot Ricciardo’s car.
Daniel Ricciardo injured his left hand in a practice crash before the Dutch Grand Prix in August and is yet to return. (Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images) (Vince Mignott/MB Media via Getty Images)
Lawson has impressed during his substitution spell. He had an eventful Singapore Grand Prix weekend in just his third entry, knocking Verstappen out of qualifying in the second session and going on to finish ninth and notch two points. Ricciardo — who himself replaced Nyck de Vries just 10 races into the latter’s career — will return to AlphaTauri at some point, having inked a contract extension for 2024 last month.
Sprint weekend format returnsIn 2021, F1 introduced the Sprint weekend format, which moved traditional qualifying to Friday and put in its place a shortened race that would award minimal points and set the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix. A few nominal tweaks later, we have our current format for the 2023 season, which effectively makes Saturday more like an exhibition. This weekend marks the fourth of six sprint format weekends in 2023.
The 2023 format ditches the lame-duck Saturday morning practice session in favor of a quicker version of the traditional three-stage knockout qualifying format to set the grid for the sprint race later in the day. The top eight finishers of the sprint will be awarded points in descending order (eight for P1, seven for P2, six for P3).
Top drivers and best bets for the Qatar Grand PrixWhile it remains to be seen if the overwhelming odds Verstappen enters every race weekend with will go down once he clinches the title, it is still in play and the Dutchman is -450 for the race win according to BetMGM. No other driver is better than 12-to-1.
Best odds to win• Max Verstappen -450• Lando Norris +1200• Sergio Perez +1200• Oscar Piastri +1800
Yahoo Sports’ Nick Bromberg wrote earlier in the week on the betting outlook and, in addition to Verstappen for the win, identified some intriguing props. With the Lusail Circuit favoring Red Bull’s strengths and reduced pressure on Perez, he likes the Mexican to finish on the podium at a -135 moneyline. Additionally, he recommends betting Mercedes to finish ahead of Ferrari (+100).
F1 world drivers’ championship standings1. Max Verstappen (1), Red Bull-Honda RBPT – 400 2. Sergio Perez (11), Red Bull-Honda RBPT – 223 3. Lewis Hamilton (44), Mercedes – 190 4. Fernando Alonso (14), Aston Martin-Mercedes – 174 5. Carlos Sainz (55), Ferrari – 150 6. Charles Leclerc (16), Ferrari – 135 7. Lando Norris (4), McLaren-Mercedes – 115 8. George Russell (63), Mercedes – 115 9. Oscar Piastri (81), McLaren-Mercedes – 57 10. Lance Stroll (18), Aston Martin-Mercedes – 47 11. Pierre Gasly (10), Alpine-Renault – 46 12. Esteban Ocon (31), Alpine-Renault – 38 13. Alexander Albon (23), Williams-Mercedes – 21 14. Nico Hülkenberg, (27), Haas-Ferrari – 9 15. Valtteri Bottas (77), Alfa Romeo-Ferrari – 6 16. Zhou Guanyu (24), Alfa Romeo-Ferrari – 4 17. Yuki Tsunoda (22), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT – 3 18. Kevin Magnussen (20), Haas-Ferrari – 3 19. Liam Lawson (40), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT – 2 20. Logan Sargeant (2), Williams-Mercedes – 0 21. Nyck De Vries (21), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT – 0 22. Daniel Ricciardo (3), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT – 0
Qatar Grand Prix weatherIt’s a good thing qualifying, the sprint and grand prix are all starting past 10 p.m. local time, because the daytime highs are forecast to be 103-107 degrees. Even with the hardest compound tires in the Pirelli range this has the feeling of a two-stop race between hot track temperatures, fast flowing corners and desert sand surrounding the facility, adding to the surface abrasion.
