Verstappen wins Qatar GP as F1 title battle with Norris and Piastri reaches final race

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max verstappen Winning the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday sent a tense Formula 1 title battle to the final race of the season. Abu Dhabi Next weekend.

championship leader lando norris Would have secured his first F1 title with victory, but finished fourth with mclaren Teammate and title rival Oscar Piastri finished second.

All three title contenders have won seven races this season. Verstappen is aiming for a fifth consecutive F1 title, with Piastri and Norris seeking their first titles.

“It’s a lovely race,” Verstappen said on team radio after his 70th career win. “Everyone did a great job.”

Norris could still become the first British driver to win the championship since Lewis Hamilton won the last of his seven titles in 2020. But after entering the Qatar GP weekend with a 24-point lead over both his rivals, Norris is now 12 points ahead of Verstappen and 16 ahead of Piastri, who dropped to third overall.

“Speechless,” said Piastri in a disappointed tone. “I don’t know any words.”

McLaren’s gamble backfires

Piastri started on pole position ahead of Norris, while Verstappen started from third.

Although Verstappen overtook Norris heading into Turn 1, Piastri made a good start and took a comfortable lead early on.

A strategy error cost McLaren dearly after an early safety car changed tyres, but both McLarens remained off the track when Verstappen and the others arrived.

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It went into Verstappen’s hands and the excited Dutchman got out of his car and jumped into the arms of his mechanics and engineers after winning.

The safety car came out after Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber spun off the track on Lap 7 after being clipped by Alpine driver Pierre Gasly.

The decision to remain out on the track was questioned by Norris on team radio, in a race where drivers had to take two mandatory pit stops in 57 laps – a measure imposed on safety grounds due to the high risk of tire failure at the Lusail International Circuit.

Changing a tire behind the safety car was equivalent to a free change, with no time wasted. The McLaren team gambled on capturing track position, which they later risked.

AP Auto Racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing