Formula One F1 - Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar - October 7, 2023 Red Bull's Max Verstappen after finishing the sprint shootout in third place Pool via REUTERS/Darko Bandic Acquire Licensing RightsSummary Piastri on sprint pole with Norris alongsideVerstappen to start third with third title in sightPerez starts eighthHamilton qualifies 12thDOHA, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Red Bull's Max Verstappen was on course to secure his third Formula One championship on Saturday after qualifying third for a Qatar Grand Prix sprint race with sole title rival and team mate Sergio Perez five places behind.
Verstappen need finish only sixth in the sprint -- and take three points -- to secure his third successive world championship.
"He (Verstappen) is not interested in the three points.
He's interested in the maximum points," Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told Sky Sports television.
Only the top eight score points in the sprint.
Persons:
Max Verstappen, Darko Bandic, Norris, Verstappen, Perez, Hamilton, Sergio Perez, Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, He's, Christian Horner, Mercedes, George Russell, Ferraris, Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc, Nico Hulkenberg, Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, Alpine's Esteban Ocon, Max, he's, Lewis Hamilton, Alan Baldwin, Hugh Lawson
Organizations:
Qatar, REUTERS, Formula, Prix, Bull, Sky Sports, Haas, FIA, Pirelli, kerbs, Thomson
Locations:
Lusail, Qatar, DOHA