Formula 1 racing | Verstappen seals third F1 title as Piastri wins sprint

Max Verstappen wins 3rd F1 title after rival Perez crashes out. Red Bull team boss Horner hails Dutch driver as "three-times world champion". Verstappen 2nd in Qatar Grand Prix sprint race, youngest triple world champion after Vettel. Piastri wins 1st F1 race, Verstappen starts Sunday's main grand prix on pole.

Max Verstappen added his name to the list of triple Formula One world champions on Saturday after Red Bull team mate and sole title rival Sergio Perez crashed out of the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race.

Mexican Perez needed to finish in the top three to keep the title open for another day, with the main grand prix on Sunday, but his hopes ended in a cloud of dust after tangling with Alpine's Esteban Ocon and Haas's Nico Hulkenberg on lap 11.

The Red Bull was then stuck in the gravel, with Perez stepping out.

That meant Verstappen, who started third and finished second behind McLaren's Oscar Piastri, was the champion for the third year in a row with an unassailable lead of 184 points and only 172 left to win.

Team boss Christian Horner read out a roll call of greats over the radio after the 26-year-old Dutch driver crossed the finish line.

"Max, you are a three-times world champion. That's unbelievable. It's been an incredible year for you," said Horner.

Verstappen, who has won 13 of 16 grands prix so far including 10 in a row, replied: "Yeah, unbelievable guys. I don't know what to say. Thank you for providing me with such a car. It's been a lot of fun this year."