🔗 Share this article

Verstappen benefited from a strategy call from McLaren that flew in the face of decisions made by all other squads during an early race safety car deployment

It was a costly decision that sacrificed track position to the Red Bull driver in the final stages and retrospectively cost the victory for the Australian driver

Race Outcome and Title Consequences

The race winner triumphed to take his seventh win of the campaign, matching the McLaren drivers, while the Australian was runner-up and the Briton fourth behind the Williams of Carlos Sainz

Norris earned an additional points by overtaking the Mercedes driver's Silver Arrow on the second-to-last lap

Norris has been left with a twelve point advantage over Verstappen, who moved ahead of his teammate by four points heading to Abu Dhabi on December 5-7

To secure the championship, the British driver must secure a podium position at Yas Marina if Verstappen takes victory next Sunday

Critical Events of the Dramatic Race

• McLaren's decision not to pit when a yellow flag was deployed on lap seven for a collision between Alpine's Gasly and Sauber's Hulkenberg
• A decision initiated by the Australian to advance his final stop in a desperate attempt to challenge Verstappen proved unsuccessful
• A unexpected second podium for the Williams driver handed by McLaren's tactical decision

The Way McLaren Missed Out in The Race

The fateful point for McLaren was when Gasly and Hulkenberg collided as the Hulkenberg tried to pass the Frenchman around the outside of Turn One on lap seven

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

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

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

Competitor Reactions and Post-Race Statements

No words

Piastri added in his after-race interview: Obviously we didn't get it right tonight My driving was the best race I could, as fast as I could, but there was no more pace out there Tried my best but couldn't secure victory

Verstappen stated: This was an incredible race for us Our team executed the correct decision to pit It was smart And super-happy to triumph in Qatar and stay in the fight to the end, remarkable

Ultimate Grand Prix Standings

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

What's Next?

The crucial title decider at the Yas Marina Circuit This venue does not produce the most thrilling competition, but once again this twilight race hosts an contest which appears set to become every bit as dramatic as Vettel's maiden championship in 2010, or the Dutch driver's much-debated first title in 2021