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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 closing laps and retrospectively cost the victory for Piastri

Grand Prix Outcome and Championship Implications

Verstappen won to take his 7th victory of the campaign, equalling the McLaren drivers, while the Piastri was runner-up and the British driver fourth behind the Williams of the Spanish driver

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

Norris has been maintained a twelve point lead over Verstappen, who overtook his teammate by four points heading to Abu Dhabi on 5-7 December

To secure the championship, Norris must secure a podium position at Abu Dhabi if his rival takes victory next race day

Critical Events of the Thrilling Grand Prix

• The team's choice not to stop when a safety car was deployed on lap seven for a collision between Alpine's Gasly and the Swiss team's Hulkenberg
• A decision led by the Australian to bring forward his final stop in a desperate attempt to challenge Verstappen proved unsuccessful
• A unexpected podium finish for the Williams driver gifted by McLaren's tactical decision

The Way The British Team Lost Out in Qatar

The critical point for McLaren was when Gasly and Hulkenberg 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 track That brought out the safety car

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

With Pirelli imposing a twenty-five lap safety limit on the tires, that meant anyone who made a stop at that time was locked into a rigid strategy with a second stop on lap 32

Competitor Responses and After the Event Comments

Speechless

The McLaren driver added in his post-race interview: Clearly we made mistakes tonight I drove the strongest performance I was capable of, as fast as I possible, but there was nothing left out there Attempted my utmost but couldn't secure victory

The race winner stated: This was an incredible race for us We made the correct decision to box That proved intelligent Furthermore super-happy to triumph in Qatar and stay in the fight to the head, incredible

Final Grand Prix Standings

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

What's Next?

The all-important title decider at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit This venue does not create the most exciting racing, but once again this evening event features an contest which appears set to become every bit as dramatic as Sebastian Vettel's first title in 2010, or Verstappen's much-debated initial championship in twenty-twenty-one