2023-10-07 09:12:08
For a long time, the question has no longer been “if”, but “when”. Max Verstappen will become the undisputed 2023 world champion. Barring a glitch, he will be crowned. When ? Perhaps this weekend in Qatar when there are still 6 Grands Prix to go.
The Dutchman, who is seeking a third consecutive crown, is 177 points ahead of his main rival, his teammate Sergio Perez. To put it simply and to be world champion in the desert sands, Verstappen must not lose more than 5 points on Perez. If it’s in front, it’s in the box.
It’s pretty crazy but the already double world champion could even be crowned even before the real start of the Grand Prix. Max Verstappen has every chance of being world champion this Saturday, October 7 at the end of the sprint race (Saturday, 7:30 p.m.-8 p.m. on Canal +).
As a reminder, it breaks down as follows: a twelve-minute Q1 for all the drivers, then a ten-minute Q2 bringing together the fifteen best and finally an eight-minute Q3 for the ten fastest drivers. As in the real Grand Prix, the sprint offers points to the drivers: 8 points to the winner, 7 to the second and so on.
If he reaches this Q3 and finishes in the top six in the sprint, Max Verstappen will be world champion regardless of the results of his other opponents. He will also be if Perez wins and he finishes seventh and so on again.
Small reminder: the Dutchman won the three sprint races of the season in Azerbaijan, Austria and Belgium. Suffice to say that he is once again the clear favorite. And if by chance things go badly this Saturday, if he is not yet crowned, “Mad Max” could be world champion again on Sunday (Grand Prix from 7 p.m. on Canal +).
It is impossible at this time to say how: it will depend on the points won in the sprint. You just have to remember that if he leaves Qatar with 146 points ahead of Sergio Perez in the drivers’ standings, basically, if Perez does not win the Grand Prix and if the Dutchman finishes in the first eight, Max Verstappen will be champion of the world for the third time. And the last five Grand Prix will only have a very limited stake.
#Formula #Max #Verstappen #world #champion #weekend