Max Verstappen triumphed in a thrilling Qatar Grand Prix, a race filled with drama due to two mid-race safety cars and a penalty for McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Verstappen and Norris were locked in a fierce battle throughout the race until Norris was handed a 10-second stop-and-go penalty for failing to slow under yellow flags. The Dutch driver played a key role in the penalty by notifying his team about the incident.
The race management by the FIA came under scrutiny after both Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz suffered punctures. It remains unclear whether the punctures were caused by worn tires or debris from a wing mirror that had been on the pit straight for three laps before being hit and shattered by Valtteri Bottas’ Sauber. The safety car was deployed to clear the debris.
At the restart, Norris challenged Verstappen, but their battle became irrelevant due to the penalty. The punishment also dashed McLaren’s hopes of clinching the constructors’ championship in this race.
With one race remaining in Abu Dhabi, McLaren holds a 21-point lead over Ferrari, with a maximum of 44 points still up for grabs.
