Max Verstappen was a clear winner in Qatar. He started third, passed Lando Norris early, and then used a strong race pace and clean execution under the 25 lap tyre stint rule to take his third consecutive victory at Lusail. The result moved him to within 12 points of Norris in the drivers’ standings ahead of the Abu Dhabi finale.
Championship contender Oscar Piastri left with solid points but also frustration. He led from pole and controlled the early phase, yet McLaren’s strategy choice under the early Safety Car left him exposed to Verstappen’s undercut and forced an extra stop later. Second place kept him in the title hunt but pushed him to 16 points behind Norris and behind Verstappen in the standings.
McLaren as a team fell into the loser column. With both cars starting on the front row, the team had a strong chance to secure the championship in Qatar, but the alternative tyre plan did not deliver the pace advantage they needed. Norris finished only fourth after a late pass on Kimi Antonelli, while Piastri lost a likely win, which tightened the title picture instead of closing it out.
Carlos Sainz was one of the biggest winners. He brought his Williams home in third place, taking a podium at a circuit that was not expected to suit the car on paper. The result boosted his personal points tally and helped secure fifth place for Williams in the constructors’ standings.
Lando Norris counted as both a winner and a loser. He preserved the championship lead and only needs a top three in Abu Dhabi to clinch his first title, but he missed a direct chance to seal it in Qatar. Finishing off the podium after starting second, and seeing Verstappen move closer, added pressure to the final round.
Mercedes had a mixed weekend. The car showed good pace in the sprint and at times in the race, yet George Russell’s poor start and Kimi Antonelli’s late mistake against Norris cost them a better result. Even so, the team held on to second place in the constructors’ standings with a decent points buffer over Red Bull.
Fernando Alonso was a quiet winner. He qualified in the midfield but still scored points in both the sprint and the race at a venue where Aston Martin expected a tougher time. His consistency across the weekend continued a run of strong drives late in the season.
Last but not the least, Ferrari fell on the loser side. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton struggled with balance and grip, and the car never looked competitive across a full lap. Leclerc salvaged a modest points finish, while Hamilton’s qualifying and race pace underlined how far the team has to go before 2026.
