Max Verstappen’s path to victory in the 2023 F1 World Championship is refreshingly straightforward – he only requires three more points to secure his third consecutive world title before the season’s conclusion in Abu Dhabi.
The key to his championship aspirations is crystal clear: Verstappen must achieve a sixth-place finish or better, regardless of how Sergio Perez performs. In less likely scenarios, a seventh-place finish would suffice if Perez manages to secure second place, and an eighth-place finish would seal the title if Perez finishes third.
An intriguing twist to this championship equation is that Verstappen could potentially win the world championship without adding any more points to his tally. If Perez finishes fourth or lower in the sprint race, Verstappen would be crowned champion, irrespective of his own finishing position.
Furthermore, Verstappen’s departure from Qatar with an advantage of 146 points or more would guarantee his third consecutive title.
Turning our attention to the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix, the race weekend is scheduled from Friday, October 6th, to Sunday, October 8th, marking F1’s return to the Lusail circuit since its inaugural race in 2021. The event schedule includes the first practice session on Friday at 9:30 AM EST, followed by qualifying for Sunday’s grand prix at 1 PM.
F1: ODDS TO WIN (VIA OLBG)
- Max Verstappen (-450)
- Sergio Perez (+1200)
- Lando Norris (+1400)
- Carlos Sainz (+1600)
- Charles Leclerc (+1600)
- George Russell (+2800)
- Lewis Hamilton (+2800)
- Fernando Alonso (+5000)
- Oscar Piastri (+5000)
- Alex Albon (+25000)
