Max Verstappen believes his third Formula One title is his best yet. Clinching the championship in a sprint race on Saturday, October 7 in Qatar didn't pack the emotional impact of his dramatic, controversial last-lap overtake of Lewis Hamilton for the 2021 title. Still, the Red Bull driver thinks his relentlessly consistent 2023 season has been his greatest so far. "This one is the best one," Verstappen said. "I think the first one was the most emotional one because that’s when your dreams are fulfilled in F1. But this one definitely in my opinion has been my best year also for consecutive wins and stuff. The car itself has been probably in the best shape as well. This one is probably (the one) I’m most proud of in a way because of consistency."
The title race was all but over long before Verstappen made sure of it Saturday. His run of 10 straight wins, an all-time F1 record, from May to September left him far ahead in the standings. A third title ranks him among some of the sport's all-time greats, level with the likes of Ayrton Senna and Niki Lauda. "I achieved more than I could have ever even dreamed of or any goals that I wanted to achieve in F1," Verstappen said. "So I’m loving the moment. We’ll see where we end up. It’s already way more than I ever thought I could achieve, so it’s perfect."
Verstappen parked up in the pit lane and stood atop his car with three fingers raised on his right hand before going to celebrate with his team. Verstappen started third Saturday but was slow off the line and was in fifth after the first lap before fighting his way through the field.
Perez was in a three-way fight with Ocon and the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg midway through the sprint when Ocon clipped Hulkenberg’s wheel and span into Perez on the outside of the corner. Both Ocon and Perez’s cars were left stuck in the gravel. Oscar Piastri won the sprint – a rare achievement for a rookie, even if Verstappen's title overshadowed it – and his McLaren teammate Lando Norris was third.
F1 organized a light show in the pit lane to mark Verstappen’s title, but since it was a sprint race and not a full Grand Prix, there was no podium ceremony. Instead, Verstappen, Piastri, and Norris were awarded plaques for placing in the top three.
For the new three-time champion, it's a question of how to balance celebrations with the reality of having to race again on Sunday. He will start on pole. "I guess quite a few sparkling waters tonight," Verstappen said with a smile when asked how he'd mark the occasion. "But I’ll be here tomorrow."