Max Verstappen of Red Bull claimed victory in a thrilling Qatar Grand Prix.
The race was punctuated by two safety car periods and a pivotal penalty for McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Verstappen and Norris were locked in a fierce battle throughout much of the race, but the dynamic shifted when Norris received a 10-second stop-and-go penalty for not slowing down under yellow flag conditions.
Notably, it was Verstappen who alerted his team to the potential infraction, which played a role in Norris receiving the penalty.
The race also raised questions about the FIA’s handling of certain situations.
Both Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and Carlos Sainz of Ferrari experienced punctures during the race.
MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS THE QATAR GRAND PRIX!!
Expertly managed from the World Champion, who makes it two wins in three races! 👏👏#F1 #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/KqMPFWAcbw
— Formula 1 (@F1) DECEMBER 1, 2024
It remains uncertain whether the issues were caused by tyre wear or debris from a wing mirror that had been lying on the track for several laps.
Criticism has been directed at the FIA for the delay in removing the debris.
The punctures occurred shortly after the mirror was destroyed, prompting the deployment of the safety car to allow marshals to clear the track.
Once the race resumed, Norris mounted a challenge against Verstappen, but the penalty rendered his efforts moot.
Despite Norris’ strong performance, the penalty also dashed McLaren’s hopes of clinching the constructors’ championship in Qatar.
The championship battle now heads to the final race in Abu Dhabi next weekend.
McLaren holds a 21-point lead over Ferrari, with a maximum of 44 points still available.
