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Verstappen capitalized on a strategy call from the British team that flew in the face of decisions made by all other squads during an initial safety car deployment

It was a expensive choice that gave up track position to Verstappen in the closing laps and retrospectively cost the victory for Piastri

Race Results and Title Implications

The race winner won to take his seventh win of the season, equalling Norris and Piastri, while the Piastri was second and the Briton fourth behind the Williams car of Carlos Sainz

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

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

To secure the championship, Norris must secure a podium position at Yas Marina if Verstappen wins the race next Sunday

Key Events of the Dramatic Grand Prix

• McLaren's choice not to pit when a yellow flag was called on the seventh lap for a collision between Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg
• A decision led by Piastri to bring forward his last pit stop in a desperate attempt to challenge Verstappen proved unsuccessful
• A unexpected podium finish for Sainz gifted by the team's strategy call

The Way McLaren Missed Out in Qatar

The critical point for the team was when Gasly and Hulkenberg collided as the Hulkenberg tried to overtake the Frenchman around the exterior of Turn One on lap seven

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

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

With Pirelli enforcing a twenty-five lap safety limit on the tires, 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

No words

Piastri added in his post-race conversation: Obviously we didn't get it right tonight My driving was the strongest performance I could, as fast as I possible, but there was nothing left out there Tried my utmost but didn't get it done

Verstappen said: That represented an amazing performance for us We made the correct decision to pit It was smart Furthermore super-happy to win here and stay in the fight to the head, incredible

Ultimate Race Positions

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

What's Next?

The crucial championship finale at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit This venue does not create the most exciting racing, 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 initial championship in 2021