Sam Johnston
Senior Sports Journalist
Max Verstappen eased to victory after sealing his third successive world championship in the Sprint; Lewis Hamilton crashed out after a first-corner collision with Mercedes team-mate George Russell; McLaren claimed a double podium with Oscar Piastri second ahead of Lando Norris
Last Updated: 08/10/23 8:17pm
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Mercedes team-mates Lewis Hamilton and George Russell collide on the opening lap of the Qatar Grand Prix
Mercedes team-mates Lewis Hamilton and George Russell collide on the opening lap of the Qatar Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton retired after a first-lap crash with Mercedes team-mate George Russell before newly crowned world champion Max Verstappen eased to victory in the Qatar Grand Prix.
Having confirmed his third successive drivers’ title in Saturday’s Sprint at the Losail International Circuit, Verstappen calmly dealt with unprecedented tyre regulations – brought in for the race amid safety concerns – to ease to victory from pole position ahead of McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
Verstappen’s task was made more simple when Russell and Hamilton, starting second and third on the grid, respectively, collided at the first corner, leaving the seven-time world champion stricken in the gravel and his team-mate at the back of the field.
Russell fought back, leaving Mercedes to ponder what might have been, to claim an impressive fourth ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, whose team-mate Carlos Sainz wasn’t able to start the race because of a fuel system issue.
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Max Verstappen wins the Qatar GP for the 14th win of 2023 and is joined by Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris on the podium
Max Verstappen wins the Qatar GP for the 14th win of 2023 and is joined by Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris on the podium
With stints limited to a maximum of 18 laps on each set of tyres, drivers were consequently required to make at least three pit stops each during the 57-lap contest, leading to near-constant fluctuation of the running order.
Fernando Alonso took sixth for Aston Martin, with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon seventh, while Alfa Romeo had their best race of the season as Valtteri Bottas finished eighth, a place ahead of team-mate Zhou Guanyu.
Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez rounded off another disappointing weekend by taking the final point in 10th to extend his lead over Hamilton in their contest for second in the drivers’ standings, with Verstappen now 209 points clear at the top.
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Hamilton says he takes responsibility for the collision with team-mate Russell
Hamilton says he takes responsibility for the collision with team-mate Russell
Verstappen’s 14th victory of the season leaves him one short of his record total of 15 from last year, with five races still to come, while Red Bull, who were crowned constructors’ champions last time out in Japan, have now won 16 of this season’s 17 Grands Prix.
Qatar GP result
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) Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo
10) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
Hamilton apologises for causing Russell collision
While it was undoubtedly Verstappen’s weekend in Qatar, it was his great rival who ensured a share of the headlines – for the wrong reasons – in a first-lap incident.
Hamilton took advantage of starting from the cleaner side of the grid and having softer tyres to get a better start than Russell ahead of him and had almost pulled alongside his team-mate as they approached the first corner.
It was at that moment that Russell veered towards Hamilton’s line on the outside of the track, just about far enough in front to justify the manoeuvre.
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Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and George Russell expressed their frustration over team radio following their first-lap collision
Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and George Russell expressed their frustration over team radio following their first-lap collision
Hamilton would have been well-advised to back out of it at that point, but sought to complete a pass around the outside, leaving Russell nowhere to go with Verstappen on his inside.
Contact was at that point inevitable, and it was Hamilton to came off worse as he lost a wheel and spun into the gravel.
Russell went off track and resumed at the back of the field before pitting at the end of the lap for new tyres, and impressively mounting a fightback after letting his frustrations out on team radio.
Having initially said over team radio that he was “taken out” by Russell, after seeing replays Hamilton took responsibility for the incident and offered an apology.
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Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris compared notes in the cool-down room after a gruelling Qatar Grand Prix
Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris compared notes in the cool-down room after a gruelling Qatar Grand Prix
“I’ve watched the replay and it was 100% my fault and I take full responsibility,” Hamilton wrote on social media. “Apologies to my team and to George.”
He had earlier told Sky Sports: “In the heat of the moment, I didn’t really understand what happened, I just obviously felt the tap from behind.
“But I don’t think George probably had anywhere to go and, yeah, it’s just one of those really unfortunate situations.
“I mean, I’m happy to take responsibility as the older one.”
More to follow…