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Norris, Piastri and Verstappen Set for Title Decider After Strategic Thriller in Qatar

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Nigora Umarova
Nigora Umarova
International Department Journalist
Formula 1 Sport
First time in 15 years 3 title contenders going into Abu Dhabi
Qatar Grand Prix
Photo: F1

Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen will take their title fight to the final round in Abu Dhabi after a dramatic and strategy-heavy Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail, where tyre limits, a Safety Car and bold calls on the pit wall reshaped the entire race.

Piastri leads early as McLaren dominate the opening phase

Round 23 of 24 began with Oscar Piastri on pole after winning the Sprint from the same position. The Australian made another perfect launch and held the lead into Turn 1, while Max Verstappen muscled past Norris to take second. Norris settled into third and Kimi Antonelli surged forward to run inside the top five.

Piastri quickly built a lead of more than two seconds, managing his mediums well under the strict 25-lap tyre limit imposed by Pirelli. Verstappen, wrestling balance issues on his Red Bull, kept Norris at arm’s length as the trio edged clear of the midfield.

Early Safety Car flips the race

The race turned on Lap 7 when Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly collided, bringing out the Safety Car. The entire field pitted for fresh tyres except the two McLarens and Esteban Ocon. That decision put Piastri and Norris in clean air but left them off-sequence and at risk later in the race.

At the restart, McLaren pushed hard, trying to build a gap large enough to compensate for the stop they had not taken. Piastri pulled away from Norris while Verstappen remained close enough to stay in the strategic fight.

McLaren’s long first stint sets up a final showdown

McLaren stretched their opening stints to the limit. Piastri stopped on Lap 25 for mediums, Norris followed one lap later and both rejoined just ahead of Fernando Alonso’s DRS train. That moment proved vital as the pair avoided losing significant time behind slower cars.

Verstappen then inherited the lead and began his charge. With the Red Bull able to take its hards to the flag, the Dutchman moved into a winning position as McLaren still needed one more stop.

Final phase builds towards a three-way finish

By Lap 33 Verstappen held a comfortable advantage after his final stop and looked on course to take maximum points. Piastri sat second on the road with Norris close behind, both needing late stops for softs to attack in the closing laps.

Sainz, Antonelli and Alonso filled out the top six while Isack Hadjar impressed again in the midfield. Ferrari endured another difficult weekend with Charles Leclerc clinging to the lower points and Lewis Hamilton mired in the pack.

Title race goes to Abu Dhabi

With Verstappen poised to gain heavily on his rivals and the McLarens unable to overhaul him on track, the championship picture tightened once more. Norris retains the lead but his advantage over both team mate Piastri and Verstappen will now be decided next weekend at Yas Marina.

The Constructors’ title is already McLaren’s but the Drivers’ Championship remains wide open with 25 points left to claim and three contenders still in the fight.

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