Formula 1 in Qatar: Verstappen wins ahead of Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri

Max Verstappen won the turbulent Qatar Grand Prix. The 27-year-old Dutchman relegated Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari to second place in the eventful Formula 1 race with three safety car phases at the Lusail International Circuit. Third was Oscar Piastri in the McLaren, fourth was George Russell in the Mercedes.

The decision in the fight for the world title in the constructors’ championship was postponed until the season finale in Abu Dhabi after the second McLaren driver Lando Norris, who was in second place, received a penalty and was ultimately only able to save one point in tenth place. Thanks to Carlos Sainz, their pursuer Ferrari gained ten points in sixth place. Ferrari is 21 points behind in the showdown against McLaren in a week – Ferrari has been waiting for the next team title since 2008, McLaren even since 1998. Verstappen’s Red Bull team was left behind here because the second driver Sergio Pérez scored too few points.

Even a week after his World Cup triumph in Las Vegas, Verstappen was not lacking in motivation. Especially not after his pole position was taken away three hours after qualifying. The accusation: He had been traveling too slowly at times. The worst sufferer in this specific incident was Russell, who moved to first place on the grid due to the grid penalty against Verstappen. Verstappen had to go to the dirty side of the track in second place. Behind them were the two McLarens who had fought for victory in the sprint on Saturday: Norris had let Piastri pass in the very last few meters as a thank you for his previous help. Leclerc started from fifth position, Sainz from seventh.

“I’m not fast anymore,” complains seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton

The order of the Scuderia It was clear: Together they were not allowed to score more than 15 points less than Norris and Piastri. Also meant: attack right at the start, in which Russell became the big loser. He slipped from first place to third place. Verstappen passed, as did Norris. Record world champion Lewis Hamilton didn’t just get off to a bad start when he fell from sixth to ninth. He also jerked off too early: “Sorry, boys,” he immediately radioed to the pits. As a punishment, he was given a five-second penalty for the false start in the second Mercedes. It all fit into an already sobering weekend for the 105-time Grand Prix winner. “I’m not fast anymore,” he had to admit after the sprint qualifying. He was too fast in the pit lane during the race, which also resulted in a penalty, and Hamilton no longer had a chance of scoring points.

Verstappen, on the other hand, remained in the lead even after a safety car phase. After an accident at the start, in which the German Nico Hülkenberg was also involved in the Haas, the world champion once again gave his competitors no chance at the restart. Behind them, Piastri quickly grabbed Leclerc – the team title mission was in full swing. Nobody was able to overtake on the track at first, and Russell also fell far behind due to a long tire change.

Now the two McLarens were chasing Verstappen, with the two Ferraris behind them, before a second safety car phase caused a lot of confusion. Hamilton and Sainz each had a puncture. The cause on the high-speed course was initially unclear. There was a broken rear-view mirror on the start and finish straight. Then Norris sensed his chance: he attacked Verstappen. But he showed who the world champion is. He fought tough but completely fair and defended his lead. It didn’t take long until the safety car had to come out again: Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Pérez had stopped on the track, as had Hülkenberg in the gravel.

Verstappen also survived the restart number three, shortly afterwards Norris received the aforementioned penalty of ten seconds. He hadn’t slowed down enough. Second place was gone – and so was McLaren’s early win of the team title.