Formula 1

Verstappen wins Qatar GP from Piastri to take title race to the wire

Fraser Masefield
1 week ago
6 min read

Max Verstappen took advantage of an early Safety Car situation to win the Qatar GP and pile on the pressure on the McLaren drivers going into the final race of the season.

The Dutch maestro started third on the grid behind Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. A full 25 points adrift, a fifth successive title looked a long shot. Things had to go in his favour. And they did.

After a brilliant early overtake and Safety Car situation caused by a Nico Hulkenberg crash, he took full advantage winning from Piastri and Carlos Sainz. Norris trailed in fourth.

It now means that heading into the Abu Dhabi GP decider, Norris nurses a precarious 12-point lead over Verstappen with Piastri another four points behind.

“Super happy to win here,” commented Verstappen on Sky Sports after stepping from the car. “Of course, we stay in the fight until the end.

“I think it was a little offset because of it all but for us I think it was a very strong race on a weekend where it was a little bit tough. But we still won the race, and that’s the most important.”

The victory may not have been achievable but for McLaren’s decision not to pit under the Safety Car. Even for armchair fans, it seemed an odd call.

“An interesting move,” added Verstappen. “I thought then we had a bit of a gap. But still you have to keep the fires alive with 25 laps as well. The wear is very high around here, but luckily it all worked out.”

For second placed Piastri, the chance of ultimate glory is still very much alive going into the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi. And yet the Australian was disappointed that a victory slipped away due to not pitting.

“I feel we didn’t get it right tonight,” said Piastri. “I drove the best race that I could and there was nothing left out there, so I tried my best, but it wasn’t to be tonight unfortunately.

“I think in hindsight it’s obvious what we should have done but we’ll discuss it as a team.

“It’s not all bad obviously. It’s been a really good weekend in terms of pace as a team. It’s been strong but still a little bit tough to swallow at the moment.”

Max Verstappen receives his trophy during the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar at Lusail International Circuit on November 30, 2025 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Lars Baron/LAT Images) / Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool /

THE TALE OF THE RACE

In every grand prix, the race start is absolutely critical. But when a world championship is on the line, everything intensifies.

Any contact, a puncture or damaged wing could cost a coveted title. This time, the racing was respectful, all three title protagonists giving one another space.

But it was Verstappen who got the jump on Norris into the first corner, the Englishman sensibly not risking a challenge.

With almost the entire field starting on the yellow banded medium compound tyres, bar Hulkenberg, Albon and Hamilton, the strategy was easy. A two stopper, not discounting Safety Car situations in a 57-lap race.

And so it came to pass, Verstappen coming into the pits after Nico Hulkenberg left the circuit having crashed out of the race on lap 8 following contact with Esteban Ocon. It threw a massive variable into the mix.

It shuffled the Dutchman back down the pack, but the McLaren duo stayed out, playing perfectly into Verstappen’s hands.

Why did McLaren not choose to pit? It was certainly a strange one. Their race window was to pit on lap 32. And they followed the process. Regardless of the Red Bull gamble.

Upon the restart, Piastri got the jump on Norris, Verstappen breathing down the neck of Norris. It was a bold move from Red Bull with Verstappen having to stick to around 20 seconds ahead to make the tactic work.

McLaren, conversely, relied on staying out longer and getting the best performance out of their tyres later in the race.

Piastri was the first of the McLarens to pit, coming in on lap 24 for a set of fresh medium compound tyres. Norris followed straight after for the same tyres a lap later.

It put Verstappen into the lead. The hunter now became the hunted. All that at half distance through the race and with another stop remaining. With a 21s gap, Red Bull pulled in Verstappen again. This time for a set of the white-banded hard compound tyre to take him to the end of the race.

It would prove sufficient. More than sufficient. The mind-boggling decision for McLaren not to pit cost them dear. Indeed, McLaren were the only team on the entire grid not to pit under the Safety Car.

“It’s tough. We just have to have faith in the team in making the right decision,” commented Norris afterwards. “Always a gamble, I feel like we were the ones to take the gamble, but now it’s the wrong decision.

“We shouldn’t have done it. Oscar lost the win and I lost P2. So we didn’t do a good job today, but we have done good jobs in other races and won the constructors’ seven races ago, six races ago because of that so that’s life.

“They just did a better job as a team, and they made the right call.”

Fraser Masefield

Fraser is a sports and motorsports editor with over 25 years experience. The former head editor of WilliamsF1, BMW Motorsport, Jaguar Racing and Virgin Media, he has also worked for Autosport, ESPNF1 and Eurosport amongst others.

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