🔗 Share this article

The championship contender capitalized on a tactical decision from McLaren that flew in the face of decisions made by all other squads during an initial safety car period

This proved to be a costly decision that sacrificed track position to the Red Bull driver in the closing laps and in hindsight cost the race win for Piastri

Race Results and Championship Implications

Verstappen triumphed to take his seventh victory of the campaign, matching the McLaren drivers, while the Piastri was runner-up and the Briton fourth behind the Williams of the Spanish driver

The McLaren driver won himself an extra two points by overtaking Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes on the second-to-last lap

The championship leader has been maintained a 12-point advantage over his rival, who overtook Piastri by four points heading to Abu Dhabi on 5-7 December

To win the title, the British driver must finish at least third at Yas Marina if Verstappen wins the race next race day

Key Moments of the Dramatic Grand Prix

• McLaren's decision not to stop when a yellow flag was called on lap seven for a crash between the French team's Gasly and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg
• A decision initiated by Piastri to bring forward his last pit stop in a desperate attempt to challenge Verstappen came to nothing
• A surprise second podium for the Williams driver gifted by McLaren's strategy call

The Way 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 exterior of the first corner on the seventh lap

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

The crucial part of the timing was that it left exactly 50 laps left in the grand prix

With the tire manufacturer enforcing a 25-lap maximum usage on the tyres, that signified anyone who made a stop at that time was locked into a fixed plan with a second stop on lap 32

Driver Reactions and Post-Race Statements

Speechless

The McLaren driver commented in his after-race interview: Obviously we didn't get it right tonight I drove the best race I could, as quick as I could, but there was nothing left out there Tried my best but couldn't secure victory

Verstappen said: That represented an amazing performance for us Our team executed the right call to pit It was smart And extremely pleased to win here and stay in the fight to the head, incredible

Final Race Standings

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

What's Next?

The crucial title decider at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina The circuit itself does not create the most thrilling racing, but yet again this evening event hosts an contest which promises to be every bit as thrilling as Vettel's maiden championship in 2010, or Verstappen's highly controversial initial championship in 2021