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Verstappen 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

It was a costly decision that gave up track position to Verstappen in the final stages and in hindsight cost the victory for Piastri

Grand Prix Outcome and Championship Consequences

Verstappen won to take his seventh win of the season, equalling Norris and Piastri, while the Piastri was runner-up and the Briton 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

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

To win the title, Norris must finish at least third at Yas Marina if Verstappen takes victory next race day

Key Events of the Thrilling Race

• The team's decision not to stop when a yellow flag was deployed on the seventh lap for a crash between the French team's Pierre Gasly and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg
• A decision led by Piastri to advance his last pit stop in a last-ditch effort to challenge Verstappen proved unsuccessful
• A surprise second podium for the Williams driver gifted by the team's tactical decision

The Way The British Team Lost Out in Qatar

The fateful moment for the team was when Gasly and Hulkenberg collided as the German tried to overtake the Gasly around the outside of Turn One on lap seven

Hulkenberg's car was damaged beside the track This triggered the yellow flag

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

With Pirelli enforcing a 25-lap maximum usage on the tires, that signified anyone who made a stop at that time was committed to a rigid strategy with a second stop on the thirty-second lap

Driver Reactions and Post-Race Comments

No words

Piastri commented in his post-race conversation: Clearly we didn't get it right tonight My driving was the strongest performance I was capable of, as quick as I could, but there was nothing left out there Attempted my utmost but couldn't secure victory

The race winner said: That represented an incredible race for us We made the right call to pit It was smart And super-happy to triumph in Qatar and remain competitive to the head, incredible

Ultimate Race Positions

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

Looking Ahead

The crucial championship finale at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit This venue does not create the most exciting racing, but once again this evening event hosts an contest which promises to be every bit as dramatic as Vettel's maiden championship in 2010, or Verstappen's much-debated initial championship in 2021