🔗 Share this article

Verstappen capitalized on 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 period

It was a expensive choice that sacrificed track position to Verstappen in the closing laps and in hindsight threw away the victory for Piastri

Grand Prix Results and Championship Implications

The race winner won to take his 7th victory of the campaign, equalling Norris and Piastri, while the Australian was runner-up and the British driver in fourth behind the Williams car of the Spanish driver

Norris won himself an extra two points by passing Kimi Antonelli's Silver Arrow on the second-to-last lap

The championship leader has been maintained a 12-point advantage over Verstappen, who overtook his teammate by four points heading to the final race on 5-7 December

To win the championship, Norris must finish at least third at Abu Dhabi if his rival wins the race next Sunday

Critical Events of the Thrilling Race

• McLaren's choice not to stop when a safety car was called on the seventh lap for a collision between the French team's Pierre Gasly and Sauber's Hulkenberg
• A decision initiated by Piastri to advance his last pit stop in a last-ditch effort to catch Verstappen proved unsuccessful
• A surprise podium finish for Sainz gifted by the team's tactical decision

How McLaren Missed Out in Qatar

The critical moment for McLaren was when the two drivers collided as the Hulkenberg tried to pass the Gasly around the exterior of the first corner on the seventh lap

The German's car was damaged beside the circuit That brought out the safety car

The critical part of the timing was that it left exactly 50 laps remaining in the grand prix

With Pirelli imposing a 25-lap safety limit on the tires, that meant anyone who pitted at that moment was locked into a fixed plan with a additional pit stop on lap 32

Driver Reactions and Post-Race Statements

Speechless

Piastri commented in his after-race interview: Clearly we made mistakes tonight I drove the best race I could, as fast as I possible, but there was nothing left out there Tried my best but didn't get it done

The race winner stated: That represented an incredible race for us Our team executed the correct decision to pit That proved intelligent And super-happy to win here and remain competitive to the head, incredible

Ultimate Race Positions

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

What's Next?

The all-important title decider at the Yas Marina The circuit itself does not produce the most thrilling competition, but once again this evening event hosts an contest which appears set to become every bit as dramatic as Vettel's first title in 2010, or Verstappen's highly controversial initial championship in 2021