Verstappen Fights to Keep Title Dream Alive in Qatar
The reigning world champion, Max Verstappen, has declared his determination to “try everything” to keep his slim title hopes alive at the end of the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday. Verstappen will remain in contention for this year’s championship if he manages to finish ahead of championship leader Lando Norris in Qatar. However, the Red Bull driver will start from third position on the grid, behind Norris, who will start second, and Oscar Piastri, who achieved pole position. Verstappen finished Saturday’s sprint race in fourth position, behind Norris, but stated that he will not give up until it is mathematically impossible to defend his title.
Added: “It will be difficult. I mean, also in the sprint, I tried, but then, yes, we fall into that window where we struggle a lot with the tires and it seems that we can’t keep the pace.” Verstappen also doubts he has the race pace to match the McLarens, based on the lap times that Piastri achieved at the end of Saturday’s sprint race. “Also, in Oscar’s last laps in that sprint, I need to cut a corner to do that. It will be a little better, but yes, I think it will be difficult to do. But we’ll see. It’s a long race. “Anything can happen.”“We will try everything we can,” Verstappen said after Saturday’s qualifying session. “At the start [of the race], at the first corner, on every lap.”
Max Verstappen
