Doha, 9 October 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Max Verstappen continued his winning ways the day after clinching a third straight Formula One world title when he scored a 14th season victory at the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday to move within one of his own record for most top spots in one campaign.

Red Bull's Verstappen dominated ahead of the McLaren duo of Saturday's sprint winner Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in a race where three pit stops were made mandatory because of safety concerns in connection with tyre wear.

The grand prix started with stunning first-turn contact between Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell which ended Hamilton's race while Russell also suffered but worked his way back up to fourth in the end.

Hamilton was furious at first but later accepted that "I don't think George probably had anywhere to go."

Verstappen clinched the title with six grands prix to spare when he came second in the sprint on the Lusail International Circuit on Saturday but he showed no signs of slowing down.

The 14th win in 17 races leave him one shy of the record 15 he achieved last year, and he could draw level in a fortnight at the US GP in Austin.

With 49 career victories he also has a chance to go third all-time if he wins all remaining races, moving ahead of Alain Prost (51) and Sebastian Vettel (53).

"I think what made the race was my first stint. After that I could just manage my pace and make sure the tyres were always in a good window," the winner said.

"The McLarens were quick again today. It was definitely a tough race out there."

Piastri and Norris were delighted to make the podium after losing third and second place on the grid owing to track limit violations and fighting back from sixth and 10th.

Drivers agreed that racing was difficult in the intense heat and humidity, with Verstappen naming "top five" of his toughest races and Piastri speaking of the "hardest race of my life" after his career-best GP result two weeks after third in Japan.

Williams driver Logan Sargeant retired in the later stages because he was feeling unwell.

The ruling body FIA allowed only 18 laps per set of rubbers after tyre maker Pirelli said that inspections of tyres revealed "a separation in the sidewall between the topping compound and the carcass cords on many of tyres that were checked." The issue was likely in connection with the high kerbs used at the track.

Verstappen narrowly won the start but it all went wrong for Mercedes in turn one when Hamilton cut inside from the outside and hit Russell who had no space driving almost next to Verstappen.

Hamilton's race was over while Russell dropped far behind and had to pit for repairs as their two-three on the grid turned into an early nightmare and brought out the safety car.

Verstappen made no mistake on the restart in lap 5 ahead of Piastri who had risen to second, with Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso third in the early stages.

Alonso and Piastri pitted for the first time in laps 12 and 13 while Verstappen drove the full allowed distance before getting fresh rubbers and returned almost eight seconds ahead of Piastri who was caught in traffic.

Once all pit stops were done Verstappen was still four seconds clear with only six laps left, winning five seconds from Piastri and Norris in third delighted with "a mega race."

Red Bull's Sergio Perez got three five-second penalties for exceeding track limits too many times as he finished 10th and was lapped by team-mate Verstappen on another day to forget. Alpine's Pierre Gasly also got multiple penalties for the same reason.

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz was not able to race owing to a fuel system problem and Nico Hülkenberg then got a 10-second penalty because he illegally took Sainz' original grid spot at the start.

Photo: EPA