Red Bull driver Max Verstappen wins Qatar GP to set up Abu Dhabi title showdown

Dubai: There’s something about Lando Norris and bad starts. In a Qatar GP where he only needed to finish ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen – who was starting behind him anyway – to end the four-time world champion’s chances of a fifth title, the McLaren World Championship leader bottled up the start yet again to be passed by the Dutchman on Turn 1 in a race that had two mandatory pit stops for all drivers.

And then, McLaren’s strategy unraveled completely on Lap 7 when the safety car was employed after Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber was sent spinning off the track by Alpine driver Pierre Gasly.

Both race leader Oscar Piastri and Norris stayed out while Verstappen took the cheap pit-stop behind the safety car and the rest, as they say, was a case of what might have been for the Papaya duo.

Piastri finished second behind Verstappen, who won a hat-trick of races in Qatar and Norris, who had Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli to thank for gifting him a position at the end, finished fourth.

The result meant the trio goes into the final race weekend in Abu Dhabi, all with a chance of clinching the coveted title. Verstappen's remarkable late-season surge has lifted him past Piastri and into second in the championship, with the Dutchman now only 12 points behind Norris, with Piastri 16 points behind his teammate.

Verstappen has fond memories of the last time the title went down to the wire when he beat Lewis Hamilton on the last lap of the last race in Abu Dhabi in 2021.

"It's all possible," said Verstappen, adding: "An incredible race for us, we made the right call to box under that safety car. A strong race for us on a weekend that was tough."

The result was a big blow to Piastri’s chances especially as he had been the fastest driver all weekend, having won the Sprint Race as well.

"Speechless," a dejected-sounding Piastri said. "I don't know any words."

"Clearly we did not get it right tonight," conceded the Australian.

"I drove as fast as I could but it wasn't to be. In hindsight it is pretty obvious what we should have done, but we'll discuss that as a team. (It's) a little bit tough to swallow at the moment," he added.

Carlos Sainz of Williams completed the podium under floodlights at the Lusail International Circuit in Doha.