Max Verstappen became Formula 1 world champion for the third consecutive year in the Qatar Grand Prix sprint, but was denied victory by Oscar Piastri as the rookie claimed his first F1 race win and McLaren's first in two years.

The race featured three safety cars in its short 19-lap duration and was defined by a tyre choice split between drivers on softs that fired up quickly then faded fast, and mediums that were very vulnerable on start and restart laps but had longevity.

While medium-shod polesitter Piastri held the lead at the start, McLaren team-mate Lando Norris and Verstappen - on the same tyres - tumbled back from second and third as the soft-fitted Ferraris and George Russell surged forwards.

A big Turn 1 twitch meant Verstappen was right down to sixth and nearly lost more places, but he quickly passed Norris for fifth behind Piastri, Russell, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc just before Liam Lawson spun into the gravel and triggered safety car number one.

SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED (LAP 1/19)

Liam Lawson is off in the gravel at Turn 2 and out of the Sprint