Max Verstappen showcased his dominance once again in the Qatar Grand Prix, securing his ninth victory of the season. Despite being demoted from pole position the day before, Verstappen outperformed the competition, finishing six seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc from Ferrari. The race was filled with penalties and controversy, with Lando Norris of McLaren receiving a late 10-second ‘stop-go’ penalty that affected his strong performance.
McLaren’s hopes of clinching their first constructors’ title since 1998 were delayed as a result of Norris’s penalty. However, the team still managed to secure a podium finish with Oscar Piastri coming in third. With the final race in Abu Dhabi looming, McLaren will have to wait for another opportunity to claim the title.
George Russell, who started from pole position in Verstappen’s absence, finished fourth for Mercedes despite facing a late penalty. Pierre Gasly from Alpine and Carlos Sainz from Ferrari rounded off the top six, while Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin secured a seventh-place finish. Zhou Guanyu made history by earning his and Sauber’s first points of the season with an eighth-place finish.
Verstappen’s victory was undoubtedly impressive, but it wasn’t enough to secure the teams’ title for Red Bull. The team now sits 21 points behind McLaren with just one race left in the season. Leclerc acknowledged that the championship race will be tight in Abu Dhabi, but McLaren’s 21-point lead puts them in a favorable position to clinch the constructors’ title.
The race was marred by an early crash involving Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon, and Franco Colapinto, leading to a red flag after just one lap. Verstappen took advantage of the restart to overtake Russell and seize the lead. McLaren’s strategic decisions kept Norris and Piastri ahead of the Ferraris, but a series of penalties, pit stops, and debris incidents added to the drama.
Russell’s misfortune during a tire change saw him plummet from third to 12th, allowing Leclerc to move up to third with Piastri close behind in fourth. The race highlighted the unpredictability and excitement of Formula 1, setting the stage for a thrilling season finale in Abu Dhabi.
