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Verstappen capitalized on a tactical decision from the British team that contradicted decisions made by all other squads during an early race safety car period

This proved to be a expensive choice that gave up track position to the Red Bull driver in the final stages and retrospectively cost the race win for the Australian driver

Grand Prix Outcome and Title Consequences

The race winner triumphed to take his seventh victory of the campaign, matching the McLaren drivers, while the Australian was second and the British driver in fourth behind the Williams car of Carlos Sainz

Norris earned an additional points by passing the Mercedes driver's Mercedes on the second-to-last lap

Norris has been left with a 12-point lead over Verstappen, who moved ahead of Piastri by four points heading to the final race on 5-7 December

To win the championship, the British driver must secure a podium position at Yas Marina if his rival takes victory next race day

Critical Events of the Thrilling Grand Prix

• The team's decision not to stop when a yellow flag was deployed on the seventh lap for a crash between Alpine's Gasly and the Swiss team's Hulkenberg
• A decision led by the Australian to bring forward his final stop in a last-ditch effort to catch Verstappen came to nothing
• A unexpected second podium for Sainz gifted by the team's strategy call

The Way The British Team Missed Out in Qatar

The critical point for the team was when Gasly and Hulkenberg collided as the German tried to pass the Gasly around the exterior of the first corner on lap seven

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

The critical part of the timing was that it meant there were 50 laps remaining in the race

With the tire manufacturer enforcing a 25-lap maximum usage on the tires, that signified anyone who pitted at that time was locked into a fixed plan with a second stop on lap 32

Competitor Responses and Post-Race Comments

No words

The McLaren driver added in his post-race interview: Obviously we didn't get it right tonight I drove the strongest performance I was capable of, as quick as I could, but there was nothing left out there Tried my best but couldn't secure victory

Verstappen stated: This was an amazing performance for us We made the right call to box It was smart And super-happy to win here and stay in the fight to the head, incredible

Ultimate Grand Prix Positions

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

Looking Ahead

The all-important title decider at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit The circuit itself does not produce the most thrilling competition, but yet again this evening event features an event which appears set to become every bit as dramatic as Sebastian Vettel's maiden championship in 2010, or the Dutch driver's highly controversial first title in twenty-twenty-one