Verstappen wins Qatar classic as McLaren suffer title blow

Max Verstappen won an F1 classic at the Lusail International Circuit, as McLaren suffered a serious blow in its pursuit of the constructors' title. 

The four-time world champion took the lead from George Russell into the first corner of the Qatar Grand Prix, whilst Lando Norris followed him through. 

Verstappen and Norris ran first and second for the bulk of the race, featuring three safety cars. However, a 10-second stop/go time penalty was awarded to Norris, for failing to slow under a yellow flag. 

The Briton took his penalty late in the race and rejoined in last, but recovered to P10 . Charles Leclerc claimed second ahead of Oscar Piastri, whilst Leclerc's team-mate Carlos Sainz finished in sixth.

It means the constructors' title will be decided in the Abu Dhabi season finale.

Opening phase

Following a bizarre one-place grid penalty for Verstappen, Russell started on pole position at the Lusail International Circuit. 

The four-time world champion was alongside him, with the McLarens on the second row. For McLaren, the situation was simple, outscore Ferrari by 15 points and the title is secured.

As the lights went out, it was Verstappen who made the best start, whilst Norris swept past Russell down the inside of the first corner to move into second.

At the back, a snap from Nico Hulkenberg at the first corner resulted in a three-car collision, between the German, Franco Colapinto and Esteban Ocon. 

Hulkenberg survived the incident, whilst Colapinto and Ocon retired. A safety car was triggered as a result; however, prior to it being called, Alex Albon spun at Turn 4, due to being hit by Lance Stroll. Both continued.

Following the chaos, Verstappen led from Norris, Russell, Leclerc and Piastri. The safety car period ended at the lap of 4, with the race having been restarted brilliantly by the Red Bull driver.

Norris and Russell remained in second and third, whilst Piastri pulled off a crucial move on Leclerc for fourth. The top four quickly broke away, leaving Ferrari several seconds adrift in fifth and sixth.

Lap 9 and Hamilton was delivered bad news, as he received a five-second time penalty for a jump start. A lap later, and Stroll became the third retiree in the Qatar GP.

It quickly became a race of tyre management, with gaps having appeared amongst the front runners. By lap 17, Verstappen led by almost two seconds. All drivers, with the exception of Hulkenberg, started on the medium compound.

By lap 23, Norris was 6.6s ahead of Russell, who suddenly found himself under immense pressure from Piastri. 

Race director chaos

Mercedes responded by pitting the British driver at the end of the following lap, in what was a miserably long pit-stop which saw him stationary for seven seconds. He rejoined in P11.

It freed Piastri, whilst Leclerc sat just two seconds adrift. To add to Russell's dismay, he struggled after rejoining the circuit.  

Crucially, with McLaren in second and third, and Ferrari in fourth and fifth, the title would not be won in Qatar. However, huge drama occurred on lap 34, as Valtteri Bottas drove over a fallen wing mirror. 

The race director had several laps to deal with Kevin Magnussen's mirror which fell on the start/finish straight, yet chose not to release a safety car until after the debris caused puncture's for both Hamilton and Sainz. 

It ruined Hamilton's race, whilst Sainz dropped to the lower point positions. All drivers chose to pit. 

Piastri pitted one-lap prior to the safety car, which allowed Leclerc to move into third as he pitted once under the neutralised conditions. So that the circuit could be cleaned, the safety car took the drivers through the pit lane for multiple laps.

Following several laps behind the safety car, the race finally resumed once again at the end of lap 39. One driver who did not restart was Sergio Perez, who lost drive ahead of the restart and then spun.

Perez retired whilst Hulkenberg also went off into the gravel, triggering a third safety car. Before the safety car was summoned yet again, Norris and Verstappen went side by side, as did Piastri and Leclerc. The top five remained in the same position.

The third safety car period lasted just a couple laps, with Norris having been placed under investigation during it for not slowing down under an earlier yellow flag. Nevertheless, Verstappen restarted the race, again, at the end of lap 42.

Verstappen restarted the race well ahead of Norris, who received a 10-second stop/go penalty. He took the penalty on lap 45, demoting him to the back of the field. Meanwhile, Hamilton received a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pit lane.

Verstappen victorious

Once Norris pitted for his penalty, Verstappen cruised into the distance. He quickly built a a five-second advantage over Leclerc in second, whilst Piastri sat in third. 

There was no battle amongst the top three, as Verstappen claimed a thrilling victory, ahead of Leclerc and Piastri. 

George Russell secured fourth, whilst Alpine's Pierre Gasly scored huge points for the Enstone-based team in fifth. It has elevated Alpine into sixth in the standings. 

Sainz secured sixth, ahead of Fernando Alonso. In eighth, Zhou Guanyu scored Stake F1's first points of the season, whilst Magnussen and Norris completed the top 10.