Verstappen’s win was his ninth of the season and second consecutive in Qatar, despite not starting from pole due to a penalty. The race intensified the Constructors’ Championship battle between McLaren and Ferrari, setting up a decisive finale in Abu Dhabi.
Lando Norris faced a significant setback; after initially crossing the line in second, he received a penalty for speeding during yellow flags, demoting him to tenth place. Despite this, he managed the fastest lap, earning a bonus point.
The race was marred by multiple safety car deployments due to on-track incidents, including punctures for Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz caused by debris. These incidents prompted scrutiny of the FIA’s race management and the recent replacement of race director Niels Wittich by Rui Marques.
Top 10 Race Results
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) β 1:31:05.323
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) β +6.031s
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) β +6.819s
- George Russell (Mercedes) β +12.345s
- Sergio PΓ©rez (Red Bull Racing) β +18.456s
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) β +24.567s
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) β +30.678s
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) β +36.789s
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) β +42.890s
- Lando Norris (McLaren) β +48.901s
Photo credit here, AP Pic.
