Max Verstappen wins, Mercs collide

F1’s groups have been thrown a curveball with a mandated most of 18-lap stints – successfully pushing all drivers right into a three-stop technique – attributable to security considerations over tyre bother.

There was additionally drama proper from the beginning when the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton collided on the first nook, permitting three-time champion Verstappen to tug properly filter out entrance.

Dash winner Oscar Piastri was better of the remainder for McLaren, ending simply forward of his team-mate Lando Norris. Russell recovered to complete fourth.

2023 F1 Qatar Grand Prix outcomes

How the 2023 F1 Qatar Grand Prix unfolded

Polesitter Verstappen, who began on medium tyres, led Russell and Hamilton on the long term to the primary nook – the latter beginning on mushy rubber.

As Hamilton lunged across the outdoors of these forward of him, the Mercedes pair collided, sending Hamilton spinning into the gravel minus his right-rear wheel. Russell limped again to the pits for a brand new entrance wing.

That promoted Piastri to second, forward of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso (who was delayed avoiding the spinning Russell), Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Esteban Ocon (Alpine) and Norris.

The race went inexperienced once more on lap 5, Verstappen extending a right away 1s lead over Piastri. Sergio Perez began his Crimson Bull from the pit lane, working the arduous tyres, and was already promoted to 13^th because of the conflict and 4 automobiles pitting forward of him. However Russell (on mediums) demoted him, regardless of Perez’s finest efforts.

Alonso was the primary of the leaders to pit on lap 13, adopted in by Piastri and Leclerc a tour later. Leclerc rejoined forward of Alonso however retook his internet third place quickly after.

Verstappen maxed out his opening stint to 17 laps, rejoining behind Alex Albon’s Williams, who needed to cease a tour later. Verstappen led Piastri by 8s at this level, as Norris snatched a place from Leclerc – which was for a internet fourth.

Piastri set the second pitstop cycle in movement simply earlier than half distance, choosing a contemporary set of mediums, whereas Verstappen ran till lap 34, rejoining with a 6s lead as he switched to hards. Alonso went off into the gravel at Flip 2, dropping locations to Russell and Leclerc as he recovered.

Piastri was once more an early stopper for the ultimate spherical of pitstops on lap 43, having dropped 10s away from Verstappen. Norris pitted a lap later and rejoined proper behind his team-mate after a robust penultimate stint.

Russell took contemporary softs for his six-lap dash to the end. Verstappen had a sluggish closing cease, rejoining 5s forward of Piastri, who closed the hole to three.4s at one level however was unable to problem within the closing phases and Verstappen received by 4.8s.

Russell was a distant fourth, forward of Leclerc and Alonso. Ocon completed seventh from Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo). Perez bought a trio of 5s penalties for exceeding monitor limits, which hampered his restoration drive to tenth, and his closing sanction promoted Zhou Guanyu to ninth.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz didn’t begin the race attributable to a gas system failure, and Logan Sargeant was compelled to retire his Williams attributable to feeling unwell.

2023 F1 Qatar Grand Prix quickest laps

2023 F1 Qatar Grand Prix tyre technique