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Verstappen capitalized on a tactical decision from McLaren that contradicted decisions made by every other team during an early race safety car period

It was a expensive choice that sacrificed track position to Verstappen in the final stages and in hindsight cost the victory for the Australian driver

Grand Prix Outcome and Title Consequences

The race winner won to take his seventh win of the season, matching Norris and Piastri, while the Australian was runner-up and the British driver fourth behind the Williams of the Spanish driver

Norris won himself an extra two points by passing the Mercedes driver's Mercedes on the second-to-last lap

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

To secure the championship, Norris must secure a podium position at Abu Dhabi if his rival takes victory next Sunday

Critical Moments of the Thrilling Race

• The team's choice not to pit when a yellow flag was deployed on the seventh lap for a collision between the French team's Pierre Gasly and the Swiss team's Nico Hulkenberg
• A decision led by Piastri to advance his final stop in a desperate attempt to challenge the leader proved unsuccessful
• A surprise podium finish for Sainz handed by the team's tactical decision

The Way The British Team Missed Out in Qatar

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

Hulkenberg's car was damaged beside the circuit This triggered the yellow flag

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 safety limit on the tires, that signified anyone who made a stop at that time was committed to a rigid strategy with a second stop on lap 32

Driver Responses and Post-Race Statements

No words

Piastri added in his post-race interview: Clearly we made mistakes tonight My driving was the best race I could, as quick as I could, but there was nothing left out there Attempted my utmost but couldn't secure victory

The race winner said: This was an amazing performance for us Our team executed the correct decision to box That proved intelligent And extremely pleased to win here and stay in the fight to the head, remarkable

Ultimate Grand Prix Positions

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

What's Next?

The crucial championship finale at the Yas Marina Circuit The circuit itself does not produce the most exciting racing, but yet again this evening event hosts an event which appears set to become every bit as thrilling as Vettel's first title in 2010, or the Dutch driver's highly controversial first title in 2021