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Verstappen benefited from a strategy call from the British team that flew in the face of decisions made by all other squads during an early race safety car period

This proved to be a costly decision that gave up track position to Verstappen in the final stages and in hindsight cost the race win for the Australian driver

Race Outcome and Championship Consequences

The race winner triumphed to take his seventh win of the campaign, matching Norris and Piastri, while the Australian was second and the British driver fourth behind the Williams of Carlos Sainz

The McLaren driver earned an additional points by overtaking the Mercedes driver's Silver Arrow on the penultimate lap

Norris has been maintained a 12-point advantage over his rival, who overtook Piastri by four points heading to the final race on December 5-7

To win the title, Norris must finish at least third at Yas Marina if his rival wins the race next Sunday

Key Moments of the Thrilling Grand Prix

• The team's choice not to stop when a yellow flag was deployed on the seventh lap for a collision between the French team's Gasly and the Swiss team's Hulkenberg
• A strategy led by Piastri to advance his last pit stop in a desperate attempt to catch the leader proved unsuccessful
• A unexpected podium finish for Sainz handed by McLaren's tactical decision

How The British Team Lost Out in The Race

The critical point for the team was when Gasly and Hulkenberg came together as the Hulkenberg tried to overtake the Frenchman around the outside of Turn One on the seventh lap

Hulkenberg's car was damaged beside the circuit This triggered the safety car

The critical part of the timing was that it meant there were 50 laps remaining in the race

With Pirelli enforcing a 25-lap safety limit on the tyres, that signified anyone who made a stop at that time was committed to a fixed plan with a second stop on lap 32

Driver Reactions and Post-Race Statements

No words

Piastri added in his after-race conversation: Clearly we made mistakes tonight My driving was the best race I could, as quick as I could, but there was no more pace out there Tried my utmost but couldn't secure victory

The race winner stated: This was an incredible race for us Our team executed the right call to box It was smart And extremely pleased to triumph in Qatar and stay in the fight to the head, incredible

Ultimate Grand Prix Standings

• 1. Verstappen (Red Bull)
• 2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
• 3. Sainz (Williams Racing)
• 4. Lando Norris (McLaren Racing)
• 5. Antonelli (Mercedes-AMG)
• 6. George Russell (Mercedes-AMG)
• 7. Alonso (Aston Martin)
• 8. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
• 9. Liam Lawson (RB F1 Team)
• 10. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull Racing)

Looking Ahead

The crucial title decider at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit This venue does not create the most exciting racing, but once again this evening event features an contest which appears set to become every bit as dramatic as Vettel's first title in 2010, or Verstappen's highly controversial initial championship in 2021