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The championship contender capitalized on a tactical decision 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 costly decision that gave up track position to the Red Bull driver in the final stages and retrospectively cost the victory for the Australian driver

Grand Prix Results and Championship Consequences

Verstappen won to take his seventh win of the campaign, matching the McLaren drivers, while the Piastri was runner-up and the Briton in fourth behind the Williams car of the Spanish driver

Norris won himself an extra two points by overtaking Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes on the penultimate lap

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

To win the championship, Norris must secure a podium position at Yas Marina if Verstappen takes victory next race day

Key Events of the Thrilling Race

• The team's decision not to pit when a yellow flag was deployed on lap seven for a crash between Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg
• A decision led by Piastri to bring forward his final stop in a last-ditch effort to challenge Verstappen came to nothing
• A unexpected podium finish for Sainz handed by the team's tactical decision

How McLaren Missed Out in Qatar

The fateful moment for McLaren was when the two drivers came together as the Hulkenberg tried to pass the Gasly around the exterior 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 meant there were 50 laps remaining in the race

With Pirelli enforcing a twenty-five lap maximum usage on the tyres, that meant anyone who pitted at that time was committed to a fixed plan with a second stop on lap 32

Driver Reactions and Post-Race Statements

Speechless

The McLaren driver commented in his after-race interview: Obviously we didn't get it right tonight My driving was the strongest performance I was capable of, as quick as I possible, but there was no more pace out there Tried my utmost but couldn't secure victory

The race winner said: This was an incredible race for us Our team executed the correct decision to box It was smart Furthermore super-happy to win here and remain competitive to the head, remarkable

Final Race Positions

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

Looking Ahead

The all-important title decider at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina The circuit itself does not produce the most exciting racing, but once again this twilight race hosts an contest which promises to be every bit as thrilling as Sebastian Vettel's first title in 2010, or Verstappen's much-debated initial championship in twenty-twenty-one