The 2025 Qatar Grand Prix saw Max Verstappen take a crucial victory at Lusail, exploiting a strategic error from McLaren that kept Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the pits later than ideal. Verstappen’s win keeps the championship alive heading into Abu Dhabi, while Piastri managed to finish second. Carlos Sainz delivered a superb performance for Williams, claiming the final podium spot, with Norris ending up fourth.
Verstappen seizes the opportunity
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen executed a flawless race to secure his 70th career win and seventh of the season. Starting third, Verstappen moved up to second at the first corner, overtaking Lando Norris. A perfect early pit stop under the safety car—called on lap 7 after Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly collided—allowed Verstappen to leap ahead, leaving the McLarens scrambling to respond. While McLaren kept both drivers on track, Verstappen’s pit strategy proved decisive, and he finished with a 12-point gain on Norris in the championship.
Piastri and Norris struggle
Oscar Piastri, starting from pole, appeared set to control the race and deliver a McLaren one-two, but Verstappen’s strategic masterstroke left him in second. Piastri performed flawlessly but ultimately could not convert his advantage into a win, and his position in the drivers’ championship dropped to third, just four points behind Verstappen.
Lando Norris, the current championship leader, finished fourth after damaging his car’s floor on lap 36. Despite fighting back in the closing laps, Norris could only overtake Kimi Antonelli, failing to challenge Carlos Sainz for the final podium spot. The McLaren strategy of equal treatment for both drivers could not compete with Red Bull’s calculated aggression.
Sainz shines for Williams
Carlos Sainz delivered an outstanding performance, securing his second podium of the season with Williams’ FW47. With a strong start and perfect pit stop, Carlos Sainz overtook Kimi Antonelli and held off Norris to claim third place. Antonelli ultimately finished fifth, maintaining a slight edge over teammate George Russell.
Ferrari’s disappointing weekend
Ferrari endured their worst weekend of the season after the Las Vegas disappointment. Charles Leclerc finished eighth, while Lewis Hamilton was only twelfth, showing the SF-25’s struggles in recent races. With only four points from Leclerc, Ferrari remains firmly in fourth place in the constructors’ championship, falling short of their seasonal objectives.
Other notable performances
Fernando Alonso scored a solid seventh for Aston Martin ahead of Leclerc, while Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda completed the top ten. Alexander Albon failed to score for Williams. Oliver Bearman received a 10-second stop-and-go penalty for an unsafe release before eventually retiring, and Isack Hadjar lost a potential seventh-place finish due to a late puncture.
Race results: Top 12
- 1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 57 laps
- 2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +7.995s
- 3. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +22.665s
- 4. Lando Norris (McLaren) – +23.315s
- 5. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +28.317s
- 6. George Russell (Mercedes) – +48.599s
- 7. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +54.045s
- 8. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +56.785s
- 9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – +1:00.073
- 10. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – +1:01.770
- 11. Alexander Albon (Williams) – +1:06.931
- 12. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +1:17.730
Twelve points separate Norris and Verstappen. Abu Dhabi will decide the 2025 world champion.
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