Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the glitch-plagued 2023 Qatar Grand Prix over the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris that featured a parade of penalties for several drivers for various offenses during the race as well as a mandatory three-pit stop requirement due to the instability of the Pirelli tires on the pyramid-kerb-filled circuit.
Verstappen started the race on pole position and both Mercedes of seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were pressuring him into the first corner as Hamilton, starting the race on soft tires, attempted to pass both Russell and Verstappen on the first corner. Hamilton cleared Russell but the pair clipped tires as Hamilton turned in to pass Verstappen and that sent Hamilton into the gravel trap and Russell spinning out. Hamilton was out but Russell was able to continue the race – though he had to take an immediate pit stop to repair minor damage.
The kerfuffle gave the McLarens control of the remaining podium positions behind Verstappen and they kept their grip on those throughout the pit stop and penalty parade of the 57-lap race which Verstappen led nearly start to finish with the exception of Lap 17 when Williams’ Alexander Albon led briefly for a lap before taking the required pit stop. ESPN transmission glitches hampered USA coverage throughout the duration of the race.
There was no change in the top three of the Formula 1 driver’s standings as Verstappen added to his point total and now has 433 points but his Red Bull teammate remained in second with 225 points and Hamilton squandered his chance to make up ground on Perez and remains in third place with 194 points.
2023 Qatar Grand Prix Top 10 Finishers
1] Max Verstappen Red Bull
2] Oscar Piastri McLaren
3] Lando Norris McLaren
4] George Russell Mercedes
5] Charles Leclerc Ferrari
6] Fernando Alonso Aston Martin
7] Esteban Ocon Alpine
8] Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo
9] Sergio Pérez Red Bull
10] G.Y. Zhou Alfa Romeo
