After the Crimson Bull driver sealed his 2023 F1 world drivers’ championship with second place in Saturday’s dash race in Qatar, he went one higher with victory within the grand prix, however the occasion was overshadowed by tyre bother and a gruelling scorching race that left drivers unwell.
PLUS: How the Qatar GP F1 tyre farce flattered McLaren and hurt Verstappen
The FIA mandated a most stint size of 18 laps per set of tyres on security grounds after Pirelli detected tyre sidewall injury after Friday’s operating.
That threw the fastidiously ready Qatar GP race methods out, whereas Mercedes wrecked its personal race when Lewis Hamilton and George Russell collided on the first nook.
With Verstappen as soon as once more victorious, McLaren picked up the remainder of the spoils as Oscar Piastri, contemporary from his dash win, took second place forward of team-mate Lando Norris in third.
Meaning there are speaking factors aplenty, as Martyn Lee is joined by Matt Kew in Qatar, together with Jake Boxall-Legge and Haydn Cobb.