🔗 Share this article

Verstappen capitalized on a strategy call from the British team that contradicted decisions made by every other team during an early race safety car period

This proved to be a expensive choice that sacrificed track position to Verstappen in the final stages and retrospectively cost the race win for Piastri

Race Outcome and Title Consequences

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

The McLaren driver won himself an additional points by passing the Mercedes driver's Mercedes on the penultimate lap

Norris has been maintained a twelve point advantage over Verstappen, who moved ahead of Piastri by four points heading to the final race on December 5-7

To win the title, Norris must finish at least third at Yas Marina if his rival wins the race next race day

Key Events of the Thrilling Race

• McLaren's decision not to pit when a safety car was called on lap seven for a crash between Alpine's Gasly and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg
• A strategy initiated by Piastri to bring forward his last pit stop in a last-ditch effort to challenge Verstappen proved unsuccessful
• A unexpected podium finish for Sainz gifted by McLaren's strategy call

How The British Team Lost Out in Qatar

The fateful point for the team was when Gasly and Hulkenberg came together as the Hulkenberg tried to overtake the Frenchman around the exterior of Turn One on lap seven

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

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

With the tire manufacturer imposing a twenty-five lap safety limit on the tires, that meant anyone who made a stop at that moment was locked into a rigid strategy with a second stop on the thirty-second lap

Driver Responses and Post-Race Statements

Speechless

Piastri commented in his post-race conversation: Clearly we made mistakes tonight I drove the strongest performance I could, as fast as I possible, but there was no more pace out there Attempted my best but couldn't secure victory

Verstappen said: This was an amazing performance for us Our team executed the correct decision to pit That proved intelligent And extremely pleased to triumph in Qatar and stay in the fight to the end, remarkable

Ultimate Grand Prix Positions

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

Looking Ahead

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