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Verstappen capitalized on a strategy call from the British team that flew in the face of decisions made by all other squads during an initial safety car period

It was a expensive choice that gave up track position to the Red Bull driver in the closing laps and in hindsight cost the race win for the Australian driver

Race Results and Title Implications

Verstappen won to take his 7th win of the campaign, equalling the McLaren drivers, while the Australian was second and the British driver fourth behind the Williams car of the Spanish driver

Norris earned an extra two points by passing Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes on the second-to-last lap

Norris has been left with a twelve point advantage over his rival, who moved ahead of his teammate by four points heading to the final race on 5-7 December

To win the title, Norris must finish at least third at Abu Dhabi if Verstappen wins the race next race day

Key Events of the Dramatic Grand Prix

• The team's decision not to stop when a safety car was called on the seventh lap for a collision between Alpine's Gasly and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg
• A decision initiated by the Australian to advance his last pit stop in a last-ditch effort to challenge the leader proved unsuccessful
• A surprise podium finish for Sainz handed by McLaren's strategy call

The Way McLaren Lost Out in Qatar

The critical moment for the team was when Gasly and Hulkenberg collided as the Hulkenberg tried to overtake the Gasly around the outside of Turn One on the seventh lap

Hulkenberg's car was damaged beside the track This triggered the safety car

The crucial part of the timing was that it left exactly 50 laps left in the race

With the tire manufacturer enforcing a 25-lap maximum usage on the tyres, that meant anyone who pitted at that moment was committed to a fixed plan with a second stop on lap 32

Competitor Responses and After the Event Comments

Speechless

The McLaren driver added in his after-race conversation: Clearly we made mistakes tonight My driving was the best race I could, as quick as I could, but there was no more pace out there Tried my utmost but didn't get it done

Verstappen said: That represented an incredible race for us Our team executed the correct decision to pit It was intelligent Furthermore extremely pleased to triumph in Qatar and remain competitive to the end, incredible

Ultimate Grand Prix Positions

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

Looking Ahead

The all-important title decider at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit The circuit itself does not create the most exciting competition, but once again this evening event features an contest which promises to be every bit as dramatic as Sebastian Vettel's first title in 2010, or the Dutch driver's highly controversial first title in twenty-twenty-one