Lando Norris’ bid to become champion of the world will go to a season finale in Abu Dhabi next weekend after Max Verstappen cashed in on a calamitous McLaren strategy decision to win the Qatar Grand Prix.
Norris, who finished only fourth, will head to the concluding round just 12 points ahead of Verstappen with Oscar Piastri, runner-up to the Red Bull driver under the lights on Sunday, 16 points adrift with 25 left to play for.
McLaren were in control of the 57-lap contest, despite Norris dropping from second to third behind Verstappen at the start.
Piastri led, but both he and Norris were told not to pit when a safety car was deployed on the seventh lap after Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly collided.
Of the other 18 drivers, only Haas’ Esteban Ocon elected not to stop for new tyres with two stops mandatory here.
That put Verstappen in the driving seat to keep his dream of winning a fifth straight title alive, and the Dutchman did not waste his opportunity, taking the chequered flag 7.9 seconds clear of Piastri with Norris – who came close to losing control of his McLaren on lap 36 of 57 – behind Carlos Sainz in fourth.
Norris passed Kimi Antonelli on the penultimate lap and will still win the world championship if he finishes third in seven days at the final race.
A nervous McLaren team headed into Sunday’s showdown desperate to end Verstappen’s title bid – with the British team’s CEO Zak Brown describing him in the build-up to the 23rd round of 24 as “that guy in the horror movie that keeps coming back”.
But their worst fears have now been realised with Verstappen hot on their heels heading to Formula One’s first title decider since 2021 and just the third in 10 seasons.
This championship fight is going ALL THE WAY!
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