Verstappen wins Qatar Grand Prix after McLaren strategic error

Verstappen retains title challenge after clever strategy

Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix. The race took a different turn due to Pirelli's maximum stint rule. Teams were not allowed to drive more than 25 laps in a row. This determined the tactics of many teams.

Early in the race, there was an incident between Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly at turn 1. Gasly punctured a tyre. Hulkenberg had to retire immediately. The safety car came out on lap seven. This gave most teams the opportunity to pit immediately and split the race into two equal stints of 25 laps.

Almost the entire field made that choice. Only McLaren initially stayed out with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. As a result, McLaren lost a strategic advantage. Verstappen benefited from this.

What happened next?

At the restart, Verstappen easily passed Norris. The leading group then drove with a few seconds between them. Piastri and Norris tried to build up a lead. Piastri came in on lap 24. Norris followed a lap later. They closed in on the field at exactly the right moments.

However, a clear track was no guarantee. Verstappen kept pace. After his pit stop on lap 32, he even came back right behind Norris. Norris then had a scary moment at turn 14, which cost him speed. Piastri later had a similar moment, but kept pushing harder.

Piastri finished second, eight seconds behind Verstappen. On the team radio, he said he was speechless about the result. Norris ultimately finished fourth after falling back due to his final pit stop. A mistake by Kimi Antonelli on the penultimate lap helped Norris secure fourth place.

Rest of the field and dropouts

Carlos Sainz secured a podium finish for Williams. This marked his second podium finish of the season with the team. Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar seemed to be on his way to sixth place, but suffered a puncture late in the race. This allowed George Russell to move up to sixth position.

Fernando Alonso finished just behind Russell. Alonso spun at turn 10 but lost hardly any places. Charles Leclerc, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda completed the points finish.

Hadjar and Lance Stroll did not finish the race normally, but were still classified because they had completed enough laps. The real dropouts were Hulkenberg and Ollie Bearman. Bearman had a pit problem during the mass stops on lap 32. He briefly left with a loose wheel, lost a lot of time and then received a ten-second penalty for an unsafe release. Haas later decided to withdraw Bearman's car from the race.

Championship implications

The victory keeps Verstappen in the title race. He is now twelve points behind leader Lando Norris. Oscar Piastri is four points behind Verstappen. The title race will therefore go down to the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

• Max Verstappen wins Qatar Grand Prix thanks to clever pit strategy.
• The maximum stint rule (25 laps) was decisive.
• McLaren initially stayed out and lost the strategic advantage.
• Hulkenberg and Bearman were the only real dropouts.

The decision in Abu Dhabi is now even more exciting. Verstappen and McLaren both still have chances. Team tactics remain crucial.