Max Verstappen did what he wanted to do firstly, and over the course of a number of restarts, to take the win on the Components 1 Qatar Grand Prix.
However the principle story performed out in his rear-view mirror, because the outcomes at Lusail Worldwide Circuit imply that the 2024 Components 1 Constructors’ title will come right down to the ultimate race of the season. Ferrari and McLaren will duel it out over the ultimate laps of the 12 months to determine a champion.
McLaren entered the Qatar Grand Prix with an opportunity at clinching the title this weekend, and did what they wanted to do within the F1 Dash Race on Saturday as Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris locked out the entrance row, choosing up 15 factors and placing McLaren into placing distance of clinching the title on Sunday.
Then within the Qatar Grand Prix itself McLaren was in place of choosing up the outcomes they wanted to clinch the title, with Norris working second behind Max Verstappen and Piastri additionally working within the prime 5. However then Norris was given a ten-second stop-and-go penalty within the closing levels for failing to raise underneath a yellow flag, and after serving that penalty he rejoined the observe working down in P15, properly outdoors the factors.
Norris was not the one driver to obtain a questionable penalty this weekend. Verstappen was given a one-place grid drop — in addition to a penalty level on his Tremendous License — on Saturday for impeding George Russell. Lewis Hamilton was given a drive-through penalty as properly throughout the Grand Prix for rushing within the pit lane, which he additionally served within the closing levels as properly. Hamilton even wished to easily retire the automotive, however as a substitute he solid on behind the sector.
The assorted penalties have been described as a “full mess” by Jolyon Palmer throughout the broadcast on F1TV.
The penalties have been handed down underneath the stewardship of F1’s new race director, Rui Marques, who took over on the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Whereas drivers have been impressed together with his management at his first race, it’s truthful to imagine that not less than some drivers, and groups, could have their share of questions following the Qatar Grand Prix.
Their fundamental level of competition may include how race stewards dealt with a bit of particles that was left on the observe, a rear-view mirror that had come off one of many automobiles. Quite than calling for a security automotive to clear the particles racing continued, and ultimately Valtteri Bottas was pressured to drive over that particles as he let a quicker automotive by him. That created much more particles, and a lap later each Hamilton and Carlos Sainz Jr. suffered punctures. That triggered a security automotive, setting in movement quite a lot of occasions resulting in the penalties to Norris and Hamilton.
Norris fought laborious after serving his penalty, getting again into the factors and choosing up a bonus level for the quickest lap of the race. However it was not sufficient for McLaren to clinch the Constructors’ Championship, which can be determined on the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix subsequent weekend.
Verstappen took the win, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc securing second, and Piastri taking the ultimate spot on the rostrum.
Additional again on the grid, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly took fifth in a large outcome for the Enstone-based group of their struggle for sixth within the Constructors’ Championship. Sauber took their first factors of the season, as Zhou Guanyu captured eighth.
When it comes to the Championship, McLaren heads to Abu Dhabi with 640 factors on the season, adopted by Ferrari with 619 and Crimson Bull with 581. With Crimson Bull now greater than 45 factors behind McLaren, they’ve been eradicated from Constructors’ Championship competition, and the title comes right down to McLaren and Ferrari.
“Not fairly the outcome we have been searching for,” admitted Piastri to David Coulthard trackside after the race. “Unsure what Lando’s penalty was for, was clearly an enormous one. Gonna be an thrilling finish to the 12 months. Hopefully we could be robust, nevertheless it’s going to take all the pieces we’ve received to seal the deal.”
“I’m actually joyful,” mentioned Leclerc after the race to Coulthard. “We knew it was going to be a really tough weekend in comparison with the McLaren, however in the long run we managed to take some factors away from them, so the struggle can be all the best way to the final race in Abu Dhabi subsequent week.”
“I believe it’s going to be very tight, nevertheless it’s thrilling,” added Leclerc. “Every little thing is feasible and we’ll give all of it.”
As for the race winner, Verstappen termed it an excellent race.
“Right now that first stint was very, very quick,” mentioned Verstappen. “It was lots of enjoyable on the market.
“Very joyful. It’s been some time within the dry to be this aggressive. Very happy with the group.”
Listed below are the complete outcomes from the F1 Qatar Grand Prix:
