How many points does Max Verstappen need to win F1 2023 world championship? Red Bull driver's permutations

Qatar 2023 is likely to hold a special place in Max Verstappen's heart as the place he secured his third world drivers' championship title.

Abu Dhabi in 2021, Japan in 2022 and now Qatar this weekend has become the latest destination that sees the Red Bull driver clinch a historic hat-trick of wins following a dominant season.

The Dutchman's 13 wins from 16 races this season has seen him establish a healthy lead at the top of the drivers' standings and with six races to go it's simply a matter of when, not if, he is crowned champion for a third time.

He became champion again before the Qatar Grand Prix had even taken place, having claimed the points he needed during Saturday's Sprint. It means Sunday's race is likely to be one of celebration for Verstappen and Red Bull, who have utterly dominated this latest F1 season.

MORE: F1 Qatar Grand Prix 2023: Time, schedule, TV channel, live stream

How many points does Max Verstappen need to win the F1 2023 world championship?

Verstappen has already won the 2023 F1 world championship. Saturday's Sprint race in Qatar, where he finished second, was enough to make his lead in the drivers' standings unassailable.

A maximum 26-point haul for Verstappen in Japan last weekend — including the bonus point for fastest lap — put him on the brink of silverware this weekend.

With Qatar being the fourth Grand Prix of the calendar to feature a Sprint, there was every chance Verstappen could be crowned champion before Sunday's race.

Heading into race weekend, Verstappen sat on 400 points with teammate Sergio Perez a whopping 177 behind on 223. Only 180 points are still up for grabs across the final six rounds of the season.

The 26-year-old needed to leave Qatar with a lead of 146 points or more over Perez and with 34 up for grabs this weekend (eight going to the winner of the sprint race, 25 for the race win, plus a bonus point for fastest lap), Verstappen was always likely to wrap things up.

Put simply, Verstappen needed three more points, which is a sixth or higher finish in Saturday's Sprint Race to be crowned champion — regardless of where Perez finishes.

In the end, Verstappen came second in the Sprint behind McLaren's Oscar Piastri, but as it happened, his final position was redundant. Perez was involved in a three-car collision with Esteban Ocon and Nico Hulkenberg, his Red Bull sent spinning into the gravel after Hulkenberg's front wing caught Ocon and the Alpine ploughed into the side of Perez's car. The fact Perez did not finish the race meant Verstappen was confirmed as champion regardless of his own performance.

WATCH: F1's Qatar Grand Prix live with Fubo (free trial)

F1 drivers' world championship 2023 standings 

F1 results 2023

Bahrain Grand Prix: Winner: Max Verstappen, 2nd: Sergio Perez, 3rd: Fernando Alonso

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Winner: Sergio Perez, 2nd: Max Verstappen, 3rd: George Russell

Australian Grand Prix: Winner: Max Verstappen, 2nd: Lewis Hamilton, 3rd: Fernando Alonso

Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Winner: Sergio Perez, 2nd: Max Verstappen, 3rd: Charles Leclerc

Miami Grand Prix: Winner: Max Verstappen, 2nd: Sergio Perez, 3rd: Fernando Alonso

Monaco Grand Prix: Winner: Max Verstappen, 2nd: Fernando Alonso, 3rd: Esteban Ocon

Spanish Grand Prix: Winner: Max Verstappen, 2nd: Lewis Hamilton, 3rd: George Russell

Canadian Grand Prix: Winner: Max Verstappen, 2nd: Fernando Alonso, 3rd: Lewis Hamilton

Austrian Grand Prix: Winner: Max Verstappen, 2nd: Charles Leclerc, 3rd: Sergio Perez

British Grand Prix: Winner: Max Verstappen, 2nd: Lando Norris, 3rd: Lewis Hamilton

Hungarian Grand Prix: Winner: Max Verstappen, 2nd: Lando Norris, 3rd: Sergio Perez

Belgian Grand Prix: Winner: Max Verstappen, 2nd: Sergio Perez, 3rd: Charles Leclerc

Dutch Grand Prix: Winner: Max Verstappen, 2nd: Fernando Alonso, 3rd: Pierre Gasly

Italian Grand Prix: Winner: Max Verstappen, 2nd: Sergio Perez, 3rd: Carlos Sainz

Singapore Grand Prix: Winner: Carlos Sainz, 2nd: Lando Norris, 3rd: Lewis Hamilton

Japanese Grand Prix: Winner: Max Verstappen, 2nd: Lando Norris, 3rd: Oscar Piastri

F1 schedule 2023