Max Verstappen wins the Qatar Grand Prix as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri suffer McLaren strategy nightmare

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The 2025 Formula 1 title battle will go to the season finale as Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix ahead of Oscar Piastri in second, with Lando Norris crucially down in fourth.

Carlos Sainz held on for third place, despite late damage to his Williams, while Kimi Antonelli was fifth for Mercedes.

Piastri got the start he needed, easing into turn one in the lead, while Verstappen swooped around the outside of Norris.

Jeopardy occurred on lap seven, when Nico Hulkenberg was clipped by Pierre Gasly at turn one, forcing a safety car.

Everyone would make their first of two planned pit stops for the race, apart from McLaren. It meant that their two drivers would have one more stop to make than their rivals for the rest of the Qatar Grand Prix.

They would eventually change tyres on laps 24 and 25, but couldn’t gain enough time to catch Verstappen.

It was a fairly comfortable ride for the Dutchman, as Piastri pushed his team to change strategy towards the end of the race.

On lap 42, he fitted a set of fresh hard tyres, as Norris stayed out, with Verstappen less than one second behind him.

Norris came in on lap 45, but was behind Antonelli and Sainz in fifth. It was a lot of work for him to do.

When he did catch the Mercedes, Norris couldn’t get ahead of him and didn’t have enough straight-line speed to get past.

A late Antonelli mistake, which could be crucial in the championship race, gifted Norris two extra points and ensured that his gap remains at 12 points heading to Abu Dhabi.

READ MORE: Martin Brundle pinpoints the moment it was ‘game over’ for Lando Norris at the Qatar Grand Prix

Max Verstappen wins the Qatar Grand Prix to keep 2025 F1 title hopes alive