Did you predict a title win for Verstappen? Or another double podium for McLaren? How many of your pre-race predictions for the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix were correct? Find out below!
1. WILL VERSTAPPEN WIN THE TITLE AT THE 2023 QATAR GRAND PRIX?
1. Will Max Verstappen win the title over the #QatarGP weekend?#LightsOutF1Predictions #F1
— Lights Out ●●●●● (@LightsOutF1Blog) October 6, 2023
YOUR PREDICTION: YES, ON SATURDAY
CORRECT ANSWER: YES, ON SATURDAY
Requiring only three points to get the job done, it seemed inevitable that Max Verstappen would win the title for the third time at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix. With team-mate Sergio Perez crashing out, Verstappen had confirmed his status as champion before the chequered flag fell on Saturday’s Sprint race. He became the first driver to win the title on a Saturday since the 1980s.
2. WHO’LL SCORE MORE POINTS – MERCEDES OR FERRARI?
2.Who’ll score more points over the #QatarGP weekend – Mercedes or Ferrari?#QatarGP #LightsOutF1Predictions #F1
— Lights Out ●●●●● (@LightsOutF1Blog) October 6, 2023
YOUR PREDICTION: FERRARI
CORRECT ANSWER: MERCEDES
It was a close result in this poll – just like it has been close in the standings between Mercedes and Ferrari. Mercedes picked up more points than Ferrari in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix over the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix weekend.
Both teams were down to one car each by Turn 1 of Sunday’s Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton collided with team-mate George Russell, eliminating himself from the race, while Carlos Sainz failed to start after suffering a fuel leak.
While Sainz picked up 3 points in the Sprint and Charles Leclerc scored 10 points in the Grand Prix, Mercedes recorded 9 points on Saturday, while Russell scored 12 points in the Grand Prix. Mercedes outscored Ferrari by 8 points, extending their hold on second place to 28 points.
3. WILL McLAREN FINISH ON THE PODIUM?
3. Will McLaren finish on the podium at the #QatarGP?#LightsOutF1Predictions #F1
— Lights Out ●●●●● (@LightsOutF1Blog) October 6, 2023
YOUR PREDICTION: YES
CORRECT ANSWER: YES
For the second race in a row, both McLaren drivers finished in the top three. That took McLaren’s podium total to 500 and made this the first time the team has scored double podiums at consecutive races since the 2010 Canadian and European Grands Prix.
4. WHERE WILL ALONSO FINISH?
4. Where will Fernando Alonso finish in the #QatarGP?#LightsOutF1Predictions #F1
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YOUR PREDICTION: 6th or 7th
CORRECT ANSWER: 6th or 7th
Fernando Alonso finished on the podium at the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix in 2021. But there was no repeat of a top three finish at Lusail Circuit in 2023. Alonso finished sixth, dropping two positions from his starting spot.
5. HOW MANY CARS WILL CROSS THE FINISH LINE?
5. How many cars will cross the finish line in Sunday's #QatarGP?#LightsOutF1Predictions #F1
— Lights Out ●●●●● (@LightsOutF1Blog) October 6, 2023
YOUR PREDICTION: 18 or 17
CORRECT ANSWER: 18 or 17
A race of attrition saw five drivers fail to finish Saturday’s Sprint. The number of finishers was higher on Sunday, at 17, but it was a challenging race for the drivers. Logan Sargeant retired after feeling unwell in the hot conditions. The other retirees were Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz, neither of whom made it past the first corner.
Let us know how you got on with this race’s predictions! There’ll be more predictions to be made ahead of the next Grand Prix. Follow Lights Out on twitter to take part: @LightsOutF1Blog!