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Verstappen benefited from 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 Verstappen in the closing laps and in hindsight threw away the race win for Piastri

Race Results and Championship Implications

The race winner triumphed to take his 7th win of the season, matching the McLaren drivers, while the Australian was runner-up and the Briton in fourth behind the Williams car of Carlos Sainz

The McLaren driver won himself an additional points by overtaking Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes on the second-to-last lap

The championship leader has been maintained a 12-point lead over his rival, who moved ahead of his teammate by four points heading to Abu Dhabi on 5-7 December

To win the championship, the British driver must secure a podium position at Abu Dhabi if Verstappen wins the race next Sunday

Key Moments of the Dramatic Race

• The team's decision not to pit when a yellow flag was called on the seventh lap for a crash between Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Swiss team's Nico Hulkenberg
• A strategy initiated by the Australian to advance his last pit stop in a last-ditch effort to challenge Verstappen came to nothing
• A unexpected second podium for the Williams driver gifted by the team's strategy call

The Way McLaren Lost Out in The Race

The fateful moment for the team was when Gasly and Hulkenberg came together as the Hulkenberg tried to overtake the Gasly around the outside of Turn One on the seventh lap

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

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 maximum usage on the tires, that signified anyone who pitted at that time was committed to a fixed plan with a additional pit stop on the thirty-second lap

Driver Responses and After the Event Statements

No words

Piastri commented in his post-race interview: Obviously we made mistakes tonight My driving was the best race I could, as fast as I possible, but there was nothing left out there Attempted my utmost but didn't get it done

Verstappen said: That represented an incredible race for us Our team executed the right call to box It was intelligent Furthermore extremely pleased to triumph in Qatar and stay in the fight to the end, remarkable

Ultimate Grand Prix Standings

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

What's Next?

The crucial title decider at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina This venue does not create the most thrilling competition, but once again this evening event features an contest which appears set to become every bit as dramatic as Vettel's maiden championship in twenty-ten, or Verstappen's much-debated initial championship in 2021