🔗 Share this article

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

It was a costly decision that gave up track position to the Red Bull driver in the final stages and in hindsight threw away the race win for the Australian driver

Grand Prix Results and Championship Implications

Verstappen won to take his 7th win of the season, matching the McLaren drivers, while the Australian was runner-up and the Briton fourth behind the Williams car of the Spanish driver

The McLaren driver earned an extra two points by passing Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes on the penultimate lap

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

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

Key Events of the Dramatic Race

• The team's decision not to stop when a safety car was called on the seventh lap for a crash between the French team's Pierre Gasly and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg
• A decision led by Piastri to advance his final stop in a last-ditch effort to challenge the leader came to nothing
• A unexpected podium finish for the Williams driver gifted by McLaren's strategy call

How McLaren Lost Out in The Race

The fateful moment for McLaren was when the two drivers came together as the German tried to overtake the Frenchman around the outside of the first corner on the seventh lap

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

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

With the tire manufacturer enforcing a 25-lap safety limit on the tyres, that meant anyone who pitted at that moment was committed to a rigid strategy with a second stop on lap 32

Driver Responses and Post-Race Statements

Speechless

The McLaren driver commented in his after-race conversation: Clearly we didn't get it right tonight My driving was the strongest performance I could, as fast as I could, but there was no more pace out there Attempted my utmost but couldn't secure victory

The race winner stated: That represented an incredible race for us We made the correct decision to box It was smart Furthermore super-happy to triumph in Qatar and stay in the fight to the head, incredible

Ultimate Race Standings

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

What's Next?

The crucial championship finale at the Yas Marina This venue does not produce the most exciting competition, but once again this twilight race hosts an event which appears set to become every bit as thrilling as Vettel's maiden championship in 2010, or the Dutch driver's highly controversial first title in 2021