🔗 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 early race safety car period

It was a expensive choice that sacrificed track position to the Red Bull driver in the final stages and in hindsight cost the race win for the Australian driver

Race Results and Title Implications

The race winner triumphed to take his seventh victory of the season, 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 the Mercedes driver's Mercedes on the second-to-last lap

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

To secure the title, Norris must secure a podium position at Yas Marina if Verstappen takes victory next Sunday

Critical Moments of the Dramatic Race

• The team's decision not to stop when a yellow flag was called on lap seven for a crash between Alpine's Gasly and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg
• A decision led by the Australian to advance his final stop in a desperate attempt to challenge Verstappen proved unsuccessful
• A surprise second podium for Sainz handed by McLaren's tactical decision

How The British Team Missed Out in The Race

The fateful point for the team was when Gasly and Hulkenberg came together as the German tried to overtake the Gasly around the outside of the first corner on the seventh lap

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

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

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

Competitor Responses and Post-Race Comments

No words

Piastri commented in his post-race interview: Obviously we didn't get it right 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 didn't get it done

Verstappen said: That represented an amazing performance for us We made the correct decision to box It was smart And extremely pleased to triumph in Qatar and stay in the fight to the head, remarkable

Ultimate Race Standings

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

What's Next?

The crucial title decider at the Yas Marina Circuit This venue does not produce the most exciting competition, but yet again this evening event hosts an event which promises to be every bit as thrilling as Sebastian Vettel's first title in twenty-ten, or the Dutch driver's highly controversial initial championship in 2021