🔗 Share this article

Verstappen benefited from a tactical decision from the British team that flew in the face of decisions made by all other squads during an initial safety car period

It was a costly decision that gave up track position to the Red Bull driver in the closing laps and in hindsight cost the race win for Piastri

Grand Prix Outcome and Championship Consequences

Verstappen triumphed to take his 7th victory of the campaign, matching Norris and Piastri, while the Piastri was second and the Briton fourth behind the Williams car of Carlos Sainz

Norris won himself an additional points by passing Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes on the second-to-last lap

The championship leader has been maintained a twelve point lead over his rival, who overtook his teammate by four points heading to Abu Dhabi on December 5-7

To win the championship, the British driver must secure a podium position at Abu Dhabi if his rival takes victory next race day

Key Moments of the Thrilling Grand Prix

• The team's choice not to stop when a yellow flag was deployed on the seventh lap for a crash between the French team's Gasly and Sauber's Hulkenberg
• A decision initiated by the Australian to bring forward his last pit stop in a last-ditch effort to challenge Verstappen came to nothing
• A surprise second podium for Sainz handed by McLaren's strategy call

How McLaren Missed Out in Qatar

The fateful point for McLaren was when the two drivers collided as the Hulkenberg tried to pass the Frenchman around the outside of the first corner on the seventh lap

The German's car was left damaged beside the track This triggered the safety car

The critical part of the timing was that it meant there were 50 laps remaining in the race

With the tire manufacturer imposing a 25-lap maximum usage on the tyres, that meant anyone who pitted at that moment was committed to a rigid strategy with a additional pit stop on lap 32

Competitor Responses and Post-Race Comments

Speechless

The McLaren driver added in his post-race interview: Clearly we made mistakes tonight My driving was the strongest performance I could, as quick as I could, but there was nothing left out there Tried my best but couldn't secure victory

Verstappen stated: This was an incredible race for us We made the right call to box It was smart And extremely pleased to win here and stay in the fight to the end, remarkable

Final Grand Prix Standings

• 1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
• 2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren Racing)
• 3. Sainz (Williams Racing)
• 4. Lando Norris (McLaren)
• 5. Antonelli (Mercedes)
• 6. Russell (Mercedes)
• 7. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin F1)
• 8. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
• 9. Lawson (RB F1 Team)
• 10. Tsunoda (Red Bull)

Looking Ahead

The crucial championship finale at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit This venue does not create the most exciting racing, but once again this evening event hosts an contest which appears set to become every bit as dramatic as Sebastian Vettel's first title in 2010, or the Dutch driver's highly controversial initial championship in 2021