F1 Qatar Grand Prix LIVE: Hamilton OUT of race as Verstappen leads in his historic title parade
CONGRATULATIONS are in order for Max Verstappen as he secured a historic third consecutive F1 title - and the Dutchman will be desperate to follow that up with a win at the Qatar Grand Prix.
Verstappen became the first driver to clinch the championship in a Sprint event after teammate Sergio Perez crashed out on lap 11.
But Lewis Hamilton who starts today's race in third, is out to spoil the celebrations as he continues to his first-place podium finish since 2021.
- Start time: 6pm BST
- Live stream:
- TV channel: Sky Sports F1
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Verstappen romped to his fourteenth win of the season, and picked up his third world championship this weekend.
It was an early disaster for Mercedes, as the two drivers collided on lap one turn one, which saw Lewis Hamilton retire from the race early.
McLaren made up the podium in second and third, with Piastri taking second place, driver of the day, and a sprint race win yesterday.
Ferrari will be disappointed that a fuel system problem saw Sainz receive a DNS, with Leclerc not making the podium either.
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Podium pics!
Beautiful scenes as triple world champion Max Verstappen won his fourteenth race of the season.
He was joined by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on the podium.
Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris on the podiumCredit: Getty 
Max Verstappen and a Red Bull team memberCredit: Reuters No spraying champers!
Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri take to the podium.
They look to spray the champagne, and soon come to the realisation that alcohol is banned in Qatar, so it will not fizz and make a mess.
Perhaps water in the champagne bottles here...
Max Verstappen tried to spray the champagne, but it was alcohol free of course...Credit: Reuters
Driver of the day
The driver of the day award has gone to Oscar Piastri, and it is hard to argue with that this weekend.
He won his first Formula One race yesterday, the sprint, and did extremely well to finish second in the Grand Prix today also, especially given the conditions.
A hugely bright talent, and one for the present and the future of Formula One it seems.
Well done Oscar.
Oscar Piastri was the driver of the day for the Qatar Grand PrixCredit: Reuters Oscar Piastri reacts:
What a weekend it has been for the Australian driver, he won the sprint yesterday and came second today.
He was told he received the Driver of the Day award, and his reaction was nothing short of brilliant!
I thought you were gonna say I was given a five-second penalty!"
Oscar PiastriLando Norris reacts
Lando Norris will be happy with a third place finish, and has also reacted to how tough the race was and the conditions too.
This is what he had to say to Sky Sports:
"Mega race from start to finish, I learnt from my mistakes yesterday of going wide and it worked out!"
"I'm happy, stressful, hot, sweaty, a little bit tired. "
"1.8 pit-stop by the way!"
VERSTAPPEN WINS THE QATAR GRAND PRIX
Max Verstappen wins his FOURTEENTH Grand Prix of the season, in which he has won his third World championship.
Oscar Piastri finishes in second, after winning the sprint yesterday, and Lando Norris makes up the podium places in third.
Russell finishes in fourth place, and he did incredibly well to rise through the pack from the back.
Max Verstappen has won the Qatar Grand PrixCredit: Getty Russell backs off - FINAL LAP
Lap 57/57.
It looks like George Russell has backed away from the two McLarens, and will try to stay in front of Charles Leclerc.
Max Verstappen has set a new fastest lap at the end of the race.
Lando Norris looks like he is going to do his best to catch Oscar Piastri down the main straight, as he sits just under a second behind his teammate.
Race standings, four laps to go
Lap 53/57.
All of the mandatory pit stops have been completed for this race now.
This is how the standings look as we approach the finish.
Max Verstappen is out in front, with a four second lead on the McLarens.
Piastri is sitting in second, with Lando Norris chasing him by just over one second.
Norris does not want to call off the battle yet, but McLaren want to settle for the points here.
Those two are followed by George Russell on the soft tyres, 24 seconds behind Norris.
Russell pits
Lap 51/57
George Russell finally pits, with his visor open, perhaps a reflection of the heat.
He comes out on the soft tyres as expected.
Can he now catch the two McLarens?
That is the race we have got on our hands...
This is gonna be good
Lap 47/57.
Piastri and Norris are SO close to each other after the pit stop.
They sit in 3rd and 4th respectively, with Russell in front of them,
However, Russell needs to pit within the next six laps.
Will Russell opt for the softs for the last five laps, and attack the two McLarens?
When he does pit, he will have roughly three or four seconds to gain on the duo.
Norris sets a new fastest lap.
Piastri pits
Lap 45/57.
A two-second pit stop for Oscar Piastri, credit to the McLaren pit crew who have been excellent today.
The Australian comes back out into fourth, with his teammate about to pit from second place.
Logan Sargeant retires
Lap 42/57.
Tough day for Logan Sargeant, and you have to feel sorry for the Williams driver.
There is a lot of pressure on his seat, and he has just retired from the race due to illness, he gave it his best bless him.
We wish him the best...
Perez with another penalty
Lap 40/57.
Sergio Perez will serve ANOTHER five second penalty for exceeding track limits on his next stop.
He is currently down in eleventh, and might be able to stay there or there abouts as he leads Magnussen by 6.5 seconds.
Current standings
Lap 37/57.
Verstappen leads the race by six seconds, Piastri behind him.
Norris makes up the podium places as it stands, with Russell in fourth and Leclerc in fifth.
Following the Ferrari is Alonso, Bottas and Ocon.
Perez is down in eleventh.
Russell sets a new fastest lap.
Norris fastest lap, Alonso yellow flag
Lap 34/57
Lando Norris does well to set another fastest lap, but the drama now comes from Fernando Alonso, who appears to be in some trouble.
He spins out onto the gravel and manages to find an escape road, that will most certainly be looked at.
Perez penalised!
Lap 29/57
Sergio Perez has been given a five-second time penalty for exceeding track limits.
He won't be the only one, it will be more of an achievement for anyone who manages to escape without one.
More pit stops and a burning bum!
Lap 27/57
Piastri, Ocon, Alonso and Leclerc have all pitted here on lap 27.
An interesting situation for Fernando Alonso, who says he is struggling with a "burning seat".
He asks if the team can cool him down on his pit stop somehow, but no one seems to have an answer for him.
On you go in the hot seat, Alonso...
Order restored?
Lap 23/57
A few drivers pit on lap 22, and we seem to have some order restored at the front of the race.
Verstappen is out in front, leading Oscar Piastri by just under eight seconds.
Following those two are Fernando Alonso, Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc.
Ocon is in sixth, with Russell behind him, Pierre Gasly is sitting in eighth as it stands.
Lewis Hamilton speaks out
Lap 21/57
"I just feel really sorry for the team" says a dejected Lewis Hamilton.
Tough to keep track of
Lap 20/57
This is a tough race to analyse with all the tyre limits being imposed.
The drivers are pitting left right and centre, which has left the grid all out of shape, but, we should have some order restored shortly.
Verstappen pits
Lap 18/57
At last Max Verstappen is into the pits, and has roughly an effective eight second lead ahead of Oscar Piastri.
Alonso is roughly three-and-a-half seconds behind the Aussie, so that is the race we need to look out for.
How is it looking?
Lap 16/57.
After the first pit stop for plenty of drivers, this is how we are looking right now.
Verstappen leads, yet to pit, followed by Albon, Perez and Guanyu.
We will see a big reshuffle once again when those four pit.
Plenty of pitting
Lap 12/57
Alonso, Piastri, Gasly and Leclerc are all pitting here on lap 12.
George Russell climbing
Lap 10/57
Excellent work from George Russell in the Mercedes, as he moves up the grid and into the points.
10th place for him now, and he will be looking to get the better of Alex Albon next.
In front of Albon we have Hulkenburg in 8th, Gasly in 7th and Norris in 6th.