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Verstappen capitalized on a strategy call from McLaren that flew in the face of decisions made by all other squads during an early race safety car period

This proved to be a costly decision that gave up track position to the Red Bull driver in the final stages and retrospectively cost the victory for Piastri

Grand Prix Results and Title Consequences

Verstappen won to take his seventh win of the season, equalling Norris and Piastri, while the Piastri was runner-up and the Briton fourth behind the Williams of the Spanish driver

Norris won himself an additional points by passing Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes on the penultimate lap

The championship leader has been left with a 12-point advantage over his rival, who overtook his teammate by four points heading to Abu Dhabi on December 5-7

To win the title, the British driver must finish at least third at Yas Marina if Verstappen takes victory next race day

Critical Events of the Thrilling Race

• The team's choice not to stop when a yellow flag was called on lap seven for a crash between the French team's Pierre Gasly and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg
• A strategy initiated by the Australian to advance his final stop in a last-ditch effort to catch the leader proved unsuccessful
• A unexpected podium finish for the Williams driver handed by McLaren's strategy call

How The British Team Lost Out in The Race

The critical point for McLaren was when Gasly and Hulkenberg came together as the German tried to pass the Gasly around the outside of the first corner on lap seven

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

The crucial part of the timing was that it meant there were 50 laps remaining in the grand prix

With Pirelli imposing 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 additional pit stop on the thirty-second lap

Competitor Reactions and Post-Race Comments

No words

Piastri commented in his after-race interview: Obviously we didn't get it right tonight My driving was the strongest performance I could, as quick as I possible, but there was nothing left out there Tried my utmost but couldn't secure victory

The race winner said: This was an incredible race for us We made the correct decision to pit That proved smart Furthermore super-happy to triumph in Qatar and stay in the fight to the end, incredible

Final Grand Prix Positions

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

Looking Ahead

The crucial title decider at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit The circuit itself does not create the most exciting competition, but yet again this twilight race hosts an event which appears set to become every bit as dramatic as Sebastian Vettel's maiden championship in 2010, or Verstappen's much-debated first title in 2021