Max Verstappen won a dramatic Qatar Grand Prix after a critical strategy error by McLaren cost Oscar Piastri a certain victory, setting up a thrilling three-way F1 championship showdown in Abu Dhabi.
During a Lap 7 safety car, every team except McLaren pitted for new tires, a necessary move due to mandated tire-life limits.
McLaren’s decision to stay out proved fatal, as Piastri and Lando Norris lost crucial track position to Verstappen, who secured the win.
Verstappen slashed Norris’s championship lead to just 12 points, with Piastri now only 16 points behind, marking the first three-driver finale since 2010.
Norris needs to finish third in Abu Dhabi to guarantee the title, but the Qatar disaster puts immense pressure on McLaren heading into the season’s climax.
