Oscar Piastri second in Qatar F1 grand prix

Verstappen continued his winning ways the day after clinching a third straight F1 world title when he scored a 14th season victory at the grand prix on Sunday to move within one of his own record for most top spots in one campaign.

He dominated ahead of the McLaren duo of Saturday's sprint winner - 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.

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 Hulkenberg then got a 10-second penalty because he illegally took Sainz' original grid spot at the start.

Australian Associated Press