Max Verstappen is unstoppable again this year. In Japan he achieved his 13th win of the season. The World Cup title is just a formality. This is how it works with the title in Qatar.
They already have the design engineer’s title in their pockets. Red Bull celebrated the title for the racing team on Sunday in Japan despite another debacle from wingman Sergio Perez. Max Verstappen bagged this single-handedly. The Dutchman would lead the team standings even without his teammate for Red Bull Racing. So much for Red Bull and Verstappen dominance.
The driver’s title also only goes through Red Bull. Because mathematically, only Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez are still possible as World Cup champions in 2023. Verstappen has 177 more points in his points account than the Mexican.
Verstappen could already secure his third drivers’ title in a row at the upcoming Grand Prix in Qatar at the beginning of October.
Max Verstappen’s path to the next title
The decision can already be made in the sprint race on Saturday (October 7th). There has never been a world champion thanks to a sprint decision.
The calculation goes like this: After the race in Qatar, Verstappen needs to be at least 146 points ahead, then Perez would mathematically no longer be able to catch him in the following races (if there is a tie on points, the higher number of race wins decides).
For this to happen, Verstappen would have to finish at least sixth in the sprint. There are three counters for this – and they would be enough. It would also be enough if Perez didn’t finish at least third in the sprint.
Because even if Perez wins the main race on the following race Sunday and collects the fastest lap, the gap would then be the necessary 146 points. This would mean that Verstappen would be crowned world champion again. In the 17th of the 22 races this season.
The only disadvantage of a decision in the emirate is the expensive alcohol, joked RB consultant Helmut Marko on “ORF”. Based on Verstappen’s performance so far, the World Cup decision in the Qatar Sprint actually seems to be almost certain.