Chance To Seal 2023 F1 World Title In Qatar, Verstappen: This Could Be An Unforgettable Weekend

JAKARTA - Red Bull Racing racer Max Verstappen could seal the 2023 Formula One (F1) world title at the Qatar Grand Prix (GP) this weekend. If successful, he will win the world title three times in a row.

Verstappen only needed three more points to ensure the title in the sprint race, Saturday, October 7. However, it had to be delayed if his teammate, Sergio Perez, successfully won six more points than the Dutch rider's points.

The 2021 and 2022 F1 world champions have won 13 races and collected 400 points this season. While Perez is 177 points adrift.

"Winning the title on Saturday is our main goal and hopefully this will be an unforgettable weekend," Verstappen said, quoted from AFP via Antara.

Red Bull Racing itself has confirmed the constructor's title. The status was secured during the Japanese GP F1 race last weekend.

"It feels good to be able to go to Qatar by securing the constructors' championship," said Verstappen.

The 26-year-old said he was quite optimistic and was looking forward to racing in Qatar, but he said the race would not be easy as the weather in Qatar was predicted to be very hot.

"The track in Qatar is really fun to drive, but it's going to be a tough weekend for all of us because the weather is going to be so hot and it's going to be an interesting race," said Verstappen.

After its dominant victory at the Japanese GP, Verstappen is expected to be able to continue its maximum performance even though a number of competitors from the Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren and Aston Martin teams also ensured to appear and break the dominance of the leader of the standings.

One of the riders estimated to be the toughest competitors in Qatar is seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) who won pole as well as the last Qatar Grand Prix title in 2021.