F1 Qatar GP Results: Verstappen Edges Closer to 2025 Title as McLaren Strategy Backfire
Max Verstappen delivered a commanding and decisive performance at the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix, taking a victory that could prove pivotal in the tightly contested championship battle. The Dutchman capitalised on an early moment of chaos and a bold Red Bull strategy call to outmanoeuvre both McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, at the Lusail International Circuit.
Coming into the Qatar weekend, Piastri appeared to be in unstoppable form. The Australian swept Saturday by securing sprint pole, sprint victory, and Sunday’s grand prix pole position, reinforcing the belief that McLaren had the strongest package. However, despite his flawless qualifying and sprint pace, Piastri ultimately lacked the strategic support needed to convert his momentum into a race win.
A Crucial Start and Early Drama
As the lights went out for the 57-lap showdown, Piastri launched cleanly from pole and immediately placed himself in prime control of the race. His teammate Norris, however, once again struggled off the line—a recurring weakness in his grand prix starts. This hesitation opened the door for Verstappen, who wasted no time slipping past the Briton into Turn 1, instantly positioning himself as Piastri’s primary challenger.
The race’s first major twist came just seven laps in, when Nico Hulkenberg tangled with Pierre Gasly. Their collision scattered carbon-fibre debris across the track, forcing race control to summon a safety car. Although the race had already been designated a mandatory two-stop affair due to tyre integrity concerns from Pirelli, the safety car presented an opportunity for teams to reshape their strategies.
Red Bull Gamble, McLaren Stay Out
Red Bull seized the moment. Verstappen was immediately called into the pits for a fresh set of tyres—a decision that would later prove decisive. McLaren, by contrast, opted to keep both Piastri and Norris on track, believing track position outweighed the potential advantage of an early stop.
This divergence created a strategic split that heavily favoured Verstappen. While he rejoined behind several cars, the early stop gave him fresher tyres and the undercut potential to leapfrog both McLaren drivers when they eventually pitted.
McLaren finally brought both cars in on lap 25, complying with Pirelli’s pre-race directive. The stops were smooth for Piastri, but Norris suffered a slower second stop later in the race—almost a full second slower than planned—forcing him into a chase for much of the final stint.
By the time the strategies played out, Verstappen had firmly installed himself in the lead. From there, he managed his pace, tyres, and rhythm with typical precision, preventing Piastri from mounting a realistic challenge.
McLaren Under Pressure as Title Goes to Abu Dhabi
Despite his best efforts, Piastri could only close to within eight seconds of the Red Bull driver, crossing the line in second place. Norris recovered strongly but had to settle for P4 after his pit stop delay cost him the chance to contend for the podium.
The result means the championship battle remains alive heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Verstappen, Norris, and Piastri—all within striking distance—will now face a dramatic winner-takes-all showdown next weekend.
Impressive Drives Through the Field
Behind the top two, Williams driver Carlos Sainz stunned the paddock by securing third place—a hard-fought podium that underscored the team’s steady improvements throughout the season. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli continued his remarkable debut campaign with a calm and calculated P5, beating his veteran teammate George Russell into sixth.
Further down the order, Fernando Alonso, Charles Leclerc, Liam Lawson, and Yuki Tsunoda all scored points after competitive drives. Lewis Hamilton, now racing in Ferrari colours, finished in P12 after struggling with tyre management and mid-race pace.
A series of retirements—including Lance Stroll, Isack Hadjar, Oliver Bearman, and Nico Hulkenberg—rounded out a chaotic afternoon.
Full Qatar GP 2025 Results
- Max Verstappen – Red Bull
- Oscar Piastri – McLaren (+7.995s)
- Carlos Sainz – Williams (+22.665s)
- Lando Norris – McLaren (+23.315s)
- Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes (+28.317s)
- George Russell – Mercedes (+48.599s)
- Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin (+54.045s)
- Charles Leclerc – Ferrari (+56.785s)
- Liam Lawson – Racing Bulls (+60.073s)
- Yuki Tsunoda – Red Bull (+61.770s)
- Alex Albon – Williams (+66.931s)
- Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari (+77.730s)
- Gabriel Bortoleto – Kick Sauber
- Franco Colapinto – Alpine (1 lap)
- Esteban Ocon – Haas (1 lap)
- Pierre Gasly – Alpine (1 lap)
DNF: Stroll, Hadjar, Bearman, Hulkenberg
Fastest Lap Rule Removed for 2025
One major regulatory change also played a role this season: the abolition of the fastest lap point. Introduced in 2019, the bonus point often led to tactical pit stops late in races, occasionally disrupting strategic integrity. With its removal for 2025, race outcomes have leaned more heavily on pure performance and position rather than last-lap tyre gambles.
Who Holds the F1 Crown?
Max Verstappen remains the reigning world champion, having secured his fourth title last season. With Qatar now behind him, he stands on the brink of adding a fifth—though the final verdict will come only after the drama of Abu Dhabi.
I thought that it was out of order to overtake under a safety car???, Noris took over Max under safety car. Everybody is doing like their nose is bleeding. Unless I am wrong about the rule???