October 07, (THEWILL) – Max Verstappen was crowned Formula One world champion for the third time on Saturday, after his Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, crashed out of the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race.
With Perez needing a top-three finish to delay Verstappen’s title celebrations until Sunday’s main race, the Mexican started in eighth position. However, on lap 11, his hopes were dashed after tangling with Esteban Ocon’s Alpine, leaving the Red Bull beached in the gravel.
With Perez out of contention, Verstappen’s third-place finish ensured he was champion again regardless of where he finished on Sunday. The 26-year-old Dutchman delivered a composed performance amidst the desert drama to claim his third title in a row, having dominated the 2022 season with 13 wins from 16 races prior to Qatar.
Perez’s early exit leaves Verstappen free to chase his 14th victory of the season from pole position on Sunday. Meanwhile, Perez will be left to reflect on what might have been after seeing his bid to take the title race to the wire end in the gravel.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
