🔗 Share this article

The championship contender capitalized on a tactical decision from McLaren that contradicted decisions made by all other squads during an initial safety car deployment

It was a costly decision that gave up track position to Verstappen in the closing laps and in hindsight cost the race win for Piastri

Grand Prix Results and Title Implications

Verstappen won to take his 7th win of the season, equalling Norris and Piastri, while the Australian was runner-up and the British driver fourth behind the Williams car of the Spanish driver

The McLaren driver earned an extra two points by passing Kimi Antonelli's Silver Arrow on the second-to-last lap

The championship leader has been left with a twelve point lead over Verstappen, who moved ahead of Piastri by four points heading to the final race on December 5-7

To win the title, the British driver must secure a podium position at Yas Marina if his rival wins the race next Sunday

Key Moments of the Thrilling Race

• McLaren's decision not to stop when a yellow flag was deployed on the seventh lap for a collision between the French team's Pierre Gasly and the Swiss team's Hulkenberg
• A decision initiated by Piastri to bring forward his last pit stop in a desperate attempt to challenge Verstappen came to nothing
• A unexpected second podium for the Williams driver handed by the team's strategy call

The Way The British Team Lost Out in Qatar

The critical point for McLaren was when the two drivers came together as the Hulkenberg tried to overtake the Frenchman around the outside of Turn One on the seventh lap

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

The crucial 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 signified anyone who pitted at that moment was committed to a fixed plan with a second stop on the thirty-second lap

Competitor Reactions and After the Event Comments

Speechless

Piastri commented in his after-race conversation: Obviously we made mistakes tonight I drove the strongest performance I was capable of, 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 amazing performance for us We made the right call to box That proved intelligent And extremely pleased to win here and stay in the fight to the end, incredible

Ultimate Grand Prix Standings

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

Looking Ahead

The crucial title decider at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit The circuit itself does not produce the most exciting competition, but yet again this twilight race hosts an event which promises to be every bit as dramatic as Vettel's first title in 2010, or Verstappen's much-debated initial championship in twenty-twenty-one