Max Verstappen only needs to finish in the top six in the Saturday sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix to secure the 2024 F1 drivers' title. The Red Bull driver has dominated this season, winning 13 of the 15 races as well as two of the three sprints.

Verstappen will become the first driver to clinch a title in a Sprint race if he finishes sixth or higher (three points or more) in the short-form format on Saturday. That is irrespective of where Perez finishes. And, in any case, if Perez does not finish in the top three of the Sprint, Verstappen is champion anyway.