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The championship contender capitalized on a strategy call from McLaren that contradicted decisions made by every other team during an early race safety car period

It was a expensive choice that sacrificed track position to Verstappen in the final stages and retrospectively cost the victory for Piastri

Grand Prix Outcome and Championship Implications

Verstappen triumphed to take his seventh victory of the season, matching Norris and Piastri, 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 overtaking the Mercedes driver's Mercedes on the second-to-last lap

The championship leader has been left with a 12-point advantage over Verstappen, who overtook his teammate by four points heading to the final race on 5-7 December

To win the title, Norris must finish at least third at Abu Dhabi if his rival wins the race next race day

Critical Moments of the Dramatic Race

• McLaren's choice not to stop when a safety car was called on the seventh lap for a collision between the French team's Gasly and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg
• A strategy led by the Australian to bring forward his final stop in a last-ditch effort to challenge the leader proved unsuccessful
• A unexpected second podium for Sainz gifted by McLaren's strategy call

How The British Team Missed Out in Qatar

The critical moment for the team was when the two drivers came together as the German tried to overtake the Gasly around the exterior of the first corner on lap seven

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

The crucial part of the timing was that it left exactly 50 laps remaining in the race

With the tire manufacturer imposing a twenty-five lap safety limit on the tyres, that meant anyone who made a stop at that moment was committed to a fixed plan with a second stop on lap 32

Driver Reactions and Post-Race Statements

Speechless

Piastri commented in his after-race conversation: Clearly we didn't get it right tonight I drove the strongest performance I was capable of, as quick as I possible, but there was no more pace out there Attempted my best but couldn't secure victory

Verstappen said: That represented an incredible race for us Our team executed the right call to pit It was smart And extremely pleased to win here and stay in the fight to the end, remarkable

Ultimate Grand Prix Positions

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

What's Next?

The all-important championship finale at the Yas Marina Circuit The circuit itself does not produce the most thrilling competition, but yet again this twilight race hosts an contest which appears set to become every bit as thrilling as Sebastian Vettel's maiden championship in 2010, or Verstappen's much-debated initial championship in 2021