Author: Barkha Roy
Max Verstappen showed his dominance in Formula 1 with a resounding victory at the Qatar Grand Prix, a race marked by a dramatic start that saw Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell collide.
The race began with great expectations, as Hamilton and Russell aimed to strengthen their positions in the constructors’ championship and the race for the drivers’ title. However, their ambitions were dashed when they tangled with Verstappen on the opening corner. Hamilton, equipped with soft tires for extra grip, overtook Russell on the outside, leading to contact that sent Hamilton spinning into the gravel.
Afterwards, frustration was evident in the radio communications between the drivers, but Hamilton later took full responsibility for the incident and apologized to his team and Russell.
Ocon 💥 Hulkenberg 💥 Perez
Sparks flew as three drivers dramatically clashed in #F1Sprint 😵#F1 #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/IBwZep45l6
– Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2023
Despite initially falling to the back of the pack, Russell made a remarkable recovery, securing an impressive fourth place. Mercedes quickly realized that the shorter stopping times and reduced tire wear compared to the sprint race allowed Russell to push harder than originally anticipated, highlighting the potential of both Mercedes drivers had the collision been avoided.
Verstappen, who had won his third title the previous day, started from pole position and held the lead throughout the race. He gave up the lead for a brief period after his initial pit stop, required by the tire mileage regulations enacted for safety reasons. All teams were limited to a maximum of 18 laps with each set of tires, a precautionary measure against possible tire failures at high speeds on the circuit’s curbs.
Amid a flurry of pit stops to comply with tire mileage limits, the McLaren duo, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, took advantage of the opportunity, securing second and third place respectively. Both drivers maintained their positions in the final stages of the race, taking advantage of the chaos that ensued at the start.
Although Williams’ Alex Albon led the race for a brief period after Verstappen’s pit stop, the strategic maneuvers ended up favoring Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who came fifth behind Verstappen, Piastri, Norris and Russell. Leclerc’s ascendancy was facilitated by a misstep by Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, who left the circuit halfway through the race.
Alonso, who had seat discomfort, admirably secured sixth place, followed by Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who started from the pits due to an accident in the speed race, finished ninth, but suffered two penalties for exceeding the track limits and ended up in 10th place, behind Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu.
The race was an arduous challenge for all the drivers, compounded by the additional pit stops and the scorching desert temperatures, making it one of the most demanding competitions they have ever faced.
Finally, Russell’s fourth place and Leclerc’s fifth ensured that Mercedes gained a crucial two points in the constructors’ championship. This result was made all the more significant by the absence of Carlos Sainz, whose Ferrari was unable to start the race due to a fuel leak detected just an hour before the event.