Qatar Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins chaotic race

With his penalty, Max Verstappen loses his pole position in favor of George Russell. The new world champion starts in second position while the second row is entirely occupied by McLaren. The British team can win the constructors’ championship as early as today if they do not concede more than 23 points to Red Bull and take back 15 points on Ferrari.

At Scuderia, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc start in 5th and 7th positions respectively.

The departure

At the lights out, Max Verstappen leaps. George Russell has already lost his first place. While Lando Norris makes a very good start and sneaks into second position. Meanwhile, at the back, there is a commotion. Esteban Ocon and Franco Colapinto find themselves in the gravel trap. The same goes for Alexander Albon after being hit by Lance Stroll.

Esteban Ocon and Franco Colapinto are forced to retire. At the restart, Piastri makes a great overtaking move on Charles Leclerc. The Australian has a very good pace. Liam Lawson spins out without consequences, he resumes his race in last place.

Aston Martin is in trouble. Lance Stroll receives a 10-second penalty, which he serves immediately before returning to the track and then retiring one lap later. Fernando Alonso, on the other hand, complains about the speed of his car on the straight line.

Penalty rain

Penalties are piling up one after the other. It’s now Liam Lawson’s turn to receive a 10-second penalty, deemed responsible for the collision with Bottas at the start. Lewis Hamilton, guilty of a false start, also receives a 5-second penalty.

Pierre Gasly manages to shake off Yuki Tsunoda and enters the points. The Japanese driver is struggling. He has fallen to 13th place. Which will restart discussions about his place in Racing Bulls or Red Bull.

George Russell returns to the pits as a precaution against a possible Piastri undercut. Unfortunately for Mercedes, the pit stop is very long, he comes out in 11th position. Oscar Piastri, on the other hand, stays on track, and rightly so, as his tires are still working well.

At the halfway point, Norris and Piastri are 2nd and 3rd, while Leclerc and Sainz are 4th and 5th. So far, the medium tires are effective, pit stops are delayed compared to the initial plan. The battle for the championship is in full swing!

Alex Albon’s rearview mirror lies on the pit straight. Surprisingly, the FIA does not deploy a yellow flag. What was bound to happen happened, a car runs over it. There is carbon fiber everywhere, Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz fall victim to a puncture. The Safety car is finally deployed, everyone takes the opportunity to stop and change tires.

Third Safety Car

The restart is tense. Norris attacks Verstappen, they touch but stay on track. Piastri and Leclerc offer us a great duel. At the back, we lose Nico Hülkenberg who ends up stuck in the gravel trap. Sergio Perez breaks his transmission and also comes to a halt. A third safety car is deployed.

At 14 laps to go, Pierre Gasly is in 6th place. He carries the hopes of Alpine, which would gain a lot of points in the constructors’ championship. In the same lap, Lando Norris receives a 10-second penalty. A very heavy sanction for the driver who allegedly accelerated under a yellow flag. It’s the end for him, he probably won’t even finish in the points.

Seven laps before the checkered flag, Lewis Hamilton seems completely demotivated. He asks to give up, Mercedes allows him to do so. Finally, the driver shows perseverance and decides to continue his Calvary to the end. Lando Norris, now 12th, does not give up, he wants to be in the top 10. Every point counts in the championship fight. He overtakes Albon and Bottas and manages to position himself 10th. Holder of the fastest lap, he scores two points for McLaren.

Max Verstappen eventually won in Qatar ahead of Leclerc and Piastri. The conclusion of the constructor’s championship will have to wait until the very last Grand Prix of the season, next Sunday in Abu Dhabi.

The results table of the Qatar Grand Prix.