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  Qatar GP: Sunday Results Doha, Qatar (October 9, 2023) 
One day after Red Bull's Max Verstappen was crowned the 2023 Formula One World Champion for the third consecutive year, the Dutch driver dominated the 2nd Annual Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday night in Doha, racing from the pole position and taking the checkers 57 laps later. "I had a slow stop at the end so the McLarens were quite close at the chequered flag but they have been quick all weekend. Of course, with the mandatory three stops, we weren't able to get the best out of our car as we are good on tyres, but we won and that's the main thing, said Verstappen. Both McLaren drivers shared the podium with the three time World Champion as the Qatar crowd saw rookie sensation, Oscar Piastri, finish second with his young British teammate, Lando Norris, finishing third. With tire degradation an issue on the 5.419km Lusail International Circuit, tires must be replaced after an 18 lap maximum. "The tyre limitations provided an interesting challenge for the team as we had to adapt our strategy and prepare the team for six stops," said Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal. "However, they managed very well and the brilliant work by the pit-stop crew saw the fastest stop of 1.8 seconds." George Russell of Mercedes and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc rounded out the top five. Russell's teammate and Seven Time World Champion Lewis Hamilton retired from the race after contact with Russell sent him into the sand at Turn One at race start. "The incident at turn one was absolutely not intentional from either myself or Lewis. Visibility is so difficult in these cars and especially when you're racing," said Russell. "There are big blind spots and we both have so much respect for one another. We will make sure we come out of this stronger." <"p> "It was a really unfortunate situation and I feel really sorry for the entire team. Massive apologies to everyone back at Brackley and Brixworth, and I take full responsibility," said Hamilton."There's very little else to say about the incident at turn one. Neither driver had the intention of coming together. Lewis took full blame for the incident and George acknowledged the role that these sizeable cars can have in such moments. Ultimately both are upset that it's cost the team a lot of points," said Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director of Mercedes AMG Racing. Ferrari's Carlos Sainz did not start the Qatar Grand Prix due to a fuel systme issue with his SF23. "It was a chaotic weekend, held in very tough conditions with several unexpected factors, starting with the problems linked to the kerbs, which might have actually had something to do with the failure on Carlos' SF-23," said Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari's Team Principal. "We go home with 10 points from Charles' fifth place and will start preparing for the triple-header in the Americas which look like being very tough." Results Pos Driver Team Laps Gap 1 Verstappen Red Bull 57 1h 27:39.168 2 Piastri McLaren 57 + 0:04.833 3 Norris McLaren 57 + 0:05.969 4 Russell Mercedes 57 + 0:34.119 5 Leclerc Ferrari 57 + 0:38.976 6 Alonso Aston Martin 57 + 0:49.032 7 Ocon Alpine 57 + 1:02.390 8 Bottas Alfa Romeo 57 + 1:06.563 9 Zhou Alfa Romeo 57 + 1:16.127 10 Perez Red Bull 57 + 1:20.181 11 Stroll Aston Martin 57 + 1:21.652 12 Gasly Alpine 57 + 1:22.300 13 Albon Williams 57 + 1:31.014 14 Magnussen Haas 56 + 1 Lap 15 Tsunoda AlphaTauri 56 + 1 Lap 16 Hulkenberg Haas 56 + 1 Lap 17 Lawson AlphaTauri 56 + 1 Lap Sargeant Williams 40 Driver Unwell Hamilton Mercedes 0 Accident Damage NS Sainz Ferrari Did Not Start |