Max Verstappen powered to victory in the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday, and the win set up a thrilling Drivers’ Championship decider in Abu Dhabi.
The Red Bull driver kept his bid for a fifth successive crown alive by overtaking pole-sitter Oscar Piastri at the start and holding firm under pressure.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished second, while teammate Lando Norris managed only fourth. Williams’ Carlos Sainz claimed third, splitting the McLaren duo on the podium. As a result, Norris leads the standings with 30 points, Verstappen trails by 12, and Piastri sits 16 points behind his teammate.
Verstappen’s late-season surge lifted him past Piastri into second place overall. Moreover, the Dutchman heads into Abu Dhabi with fond memories of his dramatic 2021 title win, when he beat Lewis Hamilton on the last lap of the final race.
McLaren looked poised for victory with Piastri and Norris starting on the front row. However, Red Bull’s strategic call to pit Verstappen under a safety car proved decisive. McLaren kept both drivers on track, a move Piastri admitted backfired. “Clearly, we did not get it right tonight,” he said. “I drove as fast as I could, but it wasn’t to be. In hindsight, it is obvious what we should have done.”
Verstappen praised his team’s decision-making. “An incredible race for us, we made the right call to box under that safety car. A strong race for us on a weekend that was tough,” he said.
Finally, the Lusail International Circuit delivered drama under floodlights, with Norris’s lead cut to 12 points. The stage is now set for a nail-biting Abu Dhabi finale that will decide the 2025 Drivers’ Championship.
ALSO READ: Duplantis, McLaughlin-Levrone Named World Athletes of the Year
