Dutch driver, who led from start to finish, arrived ahead of Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren) this Sunday (1st)
A week after winning their fourth consecutive world title, (Red Bull) won this Sunday (1st) the Qatar Grand Prix, the penultimate stage of the World Championship. 2024, while Ferrari has closed the gap to McLaren in the constructors’ championship standings.
Verstappen, who won from start to finish, came ahead of the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and the Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren), while the British Lando Norris (McLaren), who spent most of the race in second position, finished only in 10th, after receiving a penalty.
“I’m very proud of the team”
The Red Bull Dutchman was very proud: “It was a very good race, I was very fast and I enjoyed it on the circuit. Despite the safety car interventions, I managed to stay in front. I’m very proud of the team because after the sprint race we managed to reverse the trend of having a car that performed very well.”
Verstappen, who started second after losing pole position after being penalized for hindering George Russell (Mercedes) in the qualifying session, sealed the 63rd victory of his career, the ninth this season.
The race in Doha was marked by three safaty car entries and several penalties, including the one received by Norris after failing to slow down under a yellow flag, which changed the course of the race, as he fell to 15th position after completing the punishment and only managed to climb to tenth.
Ferrari took advantage, as it was close to losing the constructors’ championship at the start of the race and managed to close the gap to McLaren before the final stage of the World Championship, next weekend, in Abu Dhabi. McLaren will defend a 21-point lead with 44 points left to play for.
Russell, who started in pole position, had to settle for fourth place, ahead of the surprising Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Alpine), who started in 11th and had a great performance, masterfully resisting attacks from Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) in the last ten laps.
400 Alonso runs
In Lusail, 43-year-old Spanish veteran Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), became the first driver in history to reach the milestone of 400 races in Formula 1. He is followed by the British Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), who added his 355th start this Sunday.
Two-time world champion, Alonso finished the race in ninth place. Hamilton was seventh. The Spaniard is competing this year in his 21st season in the main motorsport category, after debuting in 2021 with Minardi.
In addition to his two titles with Renault, Alonso was runner-up three times with Ferrari (2010, 2012 and 2013) and has 32 victories, 106 podiums and 22 pole positions in his career.
*With information from AFP
Posted by Carolina Ferreira
