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The championship contender benefited from a tactical decision from McLaren that flew in the face of decisions made by every other team during an initial safety car period

This proved to be a expensive choice that gave up track position to Verstappen in the closing laps and in hindsight cost the race win for Piastri

Grand Prix Outcome and Championship Consequences

Verstappen won to take his 7th win of the season, matching Norris and Piastri, while the Piastri was runner-up and the Briton in fourth behind the Williams of Carlos Sainz

Norris earned an extra two points by overtaking the Mercedes driver's Mercedes on the second-to-last lap

Norris has been maintained a 12-point lead over his rival, who overtook his teammate by four points heading to Abu Dhabi on 5-7 December

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

Critical Events of the Dramatic Grand Prix

• The team's decision not to pit when a safety car was deployed on the seventh lap for a crash between Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Sauber's Hulkenberg
• A strategy initiated by the Australian to advance his last pit stop in a last-ditch effort to catch Verstappen proved unsuccessful
• A unexpected podium finish for the Williams driver gifted by McLaren's strategy call

The Way McLaren Missed Out in Qatar

The critical moment for McLaren was when the two drivers collided as the German tried to overtake the Frenchman around the outside of Turn One on the seventh lap

The German's car was left damaged beside the circuit That brought out the safety car

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

With Pirelli enforcing a 25-lap safety limit on the tires, that meant anyone who pitted at that time was locked into a fixed plan with a additional pit stop on lap 32

Competitor Responses and After the Event Statements

Speechless

Piastri commented in his after-race conversation: Obviously we didn't get it right tonight My driving was the best race I could, as fast as I could, but there was no more pace out there Attempted my best but couldn't secure victory

The race winner stated: 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 remain competitive to the end, incredible

Final Grand Prix Standings

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

What's Next?

The crucial title decider at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina The circuit itself does not create the most exciting competition, but yet again this twilight race features an contest which promises to be every bit as dramatic as Vettel's first title in twenty-ten, or Verstappen's much-debated first title in 2021