Max Verstappen kept his late-season title charge alive with a masterful victory at the Qatar Grand Prix, capitalising on a major strategic miscalculation by McLaren to complete a remarkable hat-trick of wins at the Lusail circuit, MySportDab Reports.
The Dutchman’s decision to dive into the pit lane under an early Safety Car proved decisive. While McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris stayed out, missing the chance for a ‘free stop’ in a race that required two tyre changes due to the FIA’s 25-lap limit, Verstappen rejoined with fresh mediums and a clear strategic advantage. From there, the reigning champion delivered a composed and clinical drive, finishing 7.995 seconds ahead of Piastri.
The win lifts Verstappen to 396 points, now just 12 behind championship leader Norris, with one race left in Abu Dhabi. Piastri, who finished third, now sits 18 points off the top but was visibly frustrated after losing a likely victory. “I’m speechless… we didn’t get it right tonight,” he admitted.
McLaren’s evening unravelled as early as lap seven, when Nico Hulkenberg spun into Pierre Gasly, triggering the Safety Car. Verstappen immediately pitted from second, while both McLaren cars stayed out, despite the team acknowledging they anticipated a two-stop race. Norris questioned the call over team radio: “We should have followed him in, no?”
When racing resumed on lap 11, Piastri led from Norris, but both drivers still owed two stops. Their first set of stops dropped them behind Verstappen, who built an 18-second cushion before completing his final stop.
As the McLarens pitted again on laps 43 and 45, Verstappen reassumed control, with Piastri rejoining second and Norris slipping to fifth behind Carlos Sainz and Kimi Antonelli.
Despite possessing the fastest package all weekend and locking out the front row, McLaren’s misjudgment allowed Verstappen to claim his seventh win of the season and the 70th of his career.
Red Bull strategist Hannah Schmitz, crucial to the winning call, joined Verstappen on the podium.
With the championship gap now razor-thin, the battle shifts to Abu Dhabi—where Verstappen has dominated in recent years—setting the stage for a dramatic final showdown next Sunday.
