Max Verstappen picks up his 63rd F1 win in chaotic Qatar Grand Prix

Max Verstappen has once again proven that he deserved to win the world championship in Formula 1. The Red Bull driver, who secured his fourth world title in Las Vegas last week, won the Qatar Grand Prix after a chaotic race full of spectacle. It is his ninth victory this year and the 63rd of his career.

Verstappen battled the Losail desert circuit with McLaren's Lando Norris, who spent most of the race close behind the Dutchman but failed to make a successful attack. Norris had to capitulate when he was given a ten-second time penalty towards the end of the race and fell far back.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc took advantage and moved up to second place. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) finished third.

Verstappen was keen on a good result in Qatar. The Dutchman surprised many on Saturday by achieving the fastest lap in qualifying, but the stewards stripped him of his pole position because he had driven too slowly in the final session and thus endangered Mercedes' George Russell. The world champion did not understand the penalty at all, but had little choice but to accept the grid penalty of one position and start the race from second place.

The Limburger made a good start at the start and managed to dive into the first corner ahead of Russell. Norris also managed to overtake Russell and took second place behind Verstappen. The two were clearly the fastest in the field and gradually sped away from the rest. The difference in lap times was nil; Verstappen always stayed about two seconds ahead of Norris.

Verstappen chose his pit stop at a strategic moment after 35 laps. He almost got it for free because the safety car had just come onto the track. This was necessary because Valtteri Bottas had broken Alexander Albon's side mirror. Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz punctured a tire on the debris.

Norris launched an attack at the restart, at the end of the long straight, but Verstappen did not give an inch. A few laps later, the safety car was back on track after a crash by Nico Hülkenberg (Haas). Once again, Verstappen managed to stay ahead of Norris when the race resumed.

The danger was over shortly after this because Norris appeared to have driven too fast on a section where the yellow warning flag was flying, which resulted in him being given a time penalty.