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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 period

This proved to be a expensive choice that gave up track position to the Red Bull driver in the final stages and retrospectively threw away the victory for the Australian driver

Race Results and Title Implications

The race winner won to take his 7th victory of the campaign, equalling Norris and Piastri, while the Piastri was second and the British driver fourth behind the Williams of Carlos Sainz

Norris won himself an extra two points by passing the Mercedes driver's Silver Arrow on the penultimate lap

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

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

Key Events of the Dramatic Grand Prix

• The team's decision not to stop when a yellow flag was called on lap seven for a crash between the French team's Gasly and Sauber's Hulkenberg
• A decision led by Piastri to advance his final stop in a desperate attempt to catch the leader proved unsuccessful
• A surprise podium finish for Sainz gifted by McLaren's strategy call

How The British Team Missed Out in Qatar

The fateful point for the team was when the two drivers came together as the German tried to pass the Frenchman around the outside of Turn One on the seventh lap

Hulkenberg's car was left damaged beside the circuit This triggered the safety car

The critical part of the timing was that it left exactly 50 laps remaining in the grand prix

With the tire manufacturer enforcing a twenty-five lap maximum usage on the tyres, that signified anyone who made a stop at that time was locked into a fixed plan with a second stop on the thirty-second lap

Competitor Reactions and After the Event Statements

Speechless

The McLaren driver added in his after-race interview: Obviously we made mistakes tonight I drove the strongest performance I could, as fast as I could, 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 right call to pit It was smart And super-happy to triumph in Qatar and remain competitive to the end, incredible

Final Grand Prix Positions

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

Looking Ahead

The crucial championship finale at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina This venue does not produce the most thrilling racing, but once again this evening event hosts an event which promises to be every bit as thrilling as Vettel's maiden championship in 2010, or the Dutch driver's much-debated first title in twenty-twenty-one