🔗 Share this article

Verstappen benefited from a tactical decision from the British team that flew in the face of decisions made by every other team during an early race safety car deployment

This proved to be a expensive choice that gave up track position to the Red Bull driver in the final stages and in hindsight cost the race win for Piastri

Grand Prix Outcome and Title Consequences

Verstappen won to take his seventh win of the campaign, equalling Norris and Piastri, while the Australian was second and the Briton in fourth behind the Williams of Carlos Sainz

The McLaren driver won himself an additional points by passing the Mercedes driver's Silver Arrow on the second-to-last lap

Norris has been left with a 12-point lead over his rival, who moved ahead of Piastri by four points heading to the final race on 5-7 December

To secure the championship, Norris must secure a podium position at Abu Dhabi if Verstappen wins the race next Sunday

Key Moments of the Thrilling Grand Prix

• McLaren's decision not to pit when a safety car was called on lap seven for a crash between Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Sauber's Hulkenberg
• A strategy led by the Australian to bring forward his last pit stop in a last-ditch effort to catch the leader proved unsuccessful
• A unexpected second podium for Sainz gifted by the team's tactical decision

The Way McLaren Lost Out in Qatar

The critical point for McLaren was when the two drivers collided as the German tried to pass the Frenchman around the outside of Turn One on lap seven

The German's car was damaged beside the circuit This triggered the yellow flag

The crucial part of the timing was that it meant there were 50 laps left in the grand prix

With the tire manufacturer imposing a twenty-five lap maximum usage on the tyres, that signified anyone who pitted at that moment was committed to a rigid strategy with a additional pit stop on the thirty-second lap

Driver Responses and Post-Race Comments

No words

The McLaren driver commented in his post-race interview: Obviously we made mistakes tonight I drove the strongest performance I was capable of, as fast as I possible, but there was no more pace out there Tried my utmost but couldn't secure victory

Verstappen said: This was an incredible race for us Our team executed the right call to pit It was smart Furthermore extremely pleased to triumph in Qatar and stay in the fight to the head, incredible

Ultimate Grand Prix Standings

• 1. Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
• 2. Piastri (McLaren Racing)
• 3. Sainz (Williams)
• 4. Lando Norris (McLaren Racing)
• 5. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes-AMG)
• 6. George Russell (Mercedes)
• 7. Alonso (Aston Martin F1)
• 8. Leclerc (Scuderia Ferrari)
• 9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
• 10. Tsunoda (Red Bull)

What's Next?

The all-important championship finale at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina The circuit itself does not produce the most exciting racing, but yet again this twilight race hosts an event which promises to be every bit as thrilling as Sebastian Vettel's first title in 2010, or Verstappen's highly controversial initial championship in twenty-twenty-one