Max Verstappen did what he needed to do at the start, and over the course of several restarts, to take the win at the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix.
But the main story played out in his rear-view mirror, as the results at Lusail International Circuit mean that the 2024 Formula 1 Constructors’ title will come down to the final race of the season. Ferrari and McLaren will duel it out over the final laps of the year to decide a champion.
McLaren entered the Qatar Grand Prix with a chance at clinching the title this weekend, and did what they needed to do in the F1 Sprint Race on Saturday as Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris locked out the front row, picking up 15 points and putting McLaren into striking distance of clinching the title on Sunday.
Then in the Qatar Grand Prix itself McLaren was in position of picking up the results they needed to clinch the title, with Norris running second behind Max Verstappen and Piastri also running in the top five. But then Norris was given a ten-second stop-and-go penalty in the closing stages for failing to lift under a yellow flag, and after serving that penalty he rejoined the track running down in P15, well outside the points.
Norris was not the only driver to receive a questionable penalty this weekend. Verstappen was given a one-place grid drop — as well as a penalty point on his Super License — on Saturday for impeding George Russell. Lewis Hamilton was given a drive-through penalty as well during the Grand Prix for speeding in the pit lane, which he also served in the closing stages as well. Hamilton even wanted to simply retire the car, but instead he forged on at the back of the field.
The various penalties were described as a “complete mess” by Jolyon Palmer during the broadcast on F1TV.
The penalties were handed down under the stewardship of F1’s new race director, Rui Marques, who took over at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. While drivers were impressed with his leadership at his first race, it is fair to assume that at least some drivers, and teams, will have their share of questions following the Qatar Grand Prix.
Their main point of contention might come with how race stewards handled a piece of debris that was left on the track, a rear-view mirror that had come off one of the cars. Rather than calling for a safety car to clear the debris racing continued, and eventually Valtteri Bottas was forced to drive over that debris as he let a faster car by him. That created even more debris, and a lap later both Hamilton and Carlos Sainz Jr. suffered punctures. That triggered a safety car, setting in motion a number of events leading to the penalties to Norris and Hamilton.
Norris fought hard after serving his penalty, getting back into the points and picking up a bonus point for the fastest lap of the race. But it was not enough for McLaren to clinch the Constructors’ Championship, which will be decided at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix next weekend.
Verstappen took the win, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc securing second, and Piastri taking the final spot on the podium.
Further back on the grid, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly took fifth in a massive result for the Enstone-based team in their fight for sixth in the Constructors’ Championship. Sauber took their first points of the season, as Zhou Guanyu captured eighth.
In terms of the Championship, McLaren heads to Abu Dhabi with 640 points on the season, followed by Ferrari with 619 and Red Bull with 581. With Red Bull now more than 45 points behind McLaren, they have been eliminated from Constructors’ Championship contention, and the title comes down to McLaren and Ferrari.
“Not quite the result we were looking for,” admitted Piastri to David Coulthard trackside after the race. “Not sure what Lando’s penalty was for, was obviously a big one. Gonna be an exciting end to the year. Hopefully we can be strong, but it’s going to take everything we’ve got to seal the deal.”
“I’m really happy,” said Leclerc after the race to Coulthard. “We knew it was going to be a very difficult weekend compared to the McLaren, but in the end we managed to take some points away from them, so the fight will be all the way to the last race in Abu Dhabi next week.”
“I think it’s going to be very tight, but it’s exciting,” added Leclerc. “Everything is possible and we’ll give it all.”
As for the race winner, Verstappen termed it a very good race.
“Today that first stint was very, very fast,” said Verstappen. “It was a lot of fun out there.
“Very happy. It’s been a while in the dry to be this competitive. Very proud of the team.”
Here are the full results from the F1 Qatar Grand Prix:
