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Verstappen capitalized on a strategy call from McLaren that flew in the face of decisions made by every other team during an initial safety car deployment

It was a expensive choice that gave up track position to the Red Bull driver in the final stages and retrospectively cost the victory for the Australian driver

Race Outcome and Title Consequences

The race winner won to take his seventh victory of the season, matching Norris and Piastri, while the Australian was runner-up and the British driver fourth behind the Williams car of Carlos Sainz

The McLaren driver won himself an extra two points by passing Kimi Antonelli's Silver Arrow on the penultimate lap

Norris has been left with a twelve point lead over his rival, who overtook his teammate by four points heading to the final race on 5-7 December

To win the championship, Norris must finish at least third at Abu Dhabi if Verstappen wins the race next race day

Key Events of the Dramatic Grand Prix

• McLaren's choice not to pit when a yellow flag was deployed on lap seven for a collision between Alpine's Gasly and the Swiss team's Nico Hulkenberg
• A decision initiated by the Australian to advance his last pit stop in a desperate attempt to catch the leader came to nothing
• A surprise podium finish for the Williams driver handed by the team's tactical decision

How The British Team Missed Out in The Race

The critical moment for McLaren was when the two drivers came together as the German tried to overtake the Gasly around the outside of Turn One on the seventh lap

The German's car was left damaged beside the circuit This triggered the yellow flag

The crucial part of the timing was that it meant there were 50 laps left in the race

With the tire manufacturer enforcing a twenty-five lap maximum usage on the tyres, that meant anyone who made a stop at that moment was committed to a rigid strategy with a second stop on the thirty-second lap

Competitor Responses and Post-Race Comments

Speechless

Piastri added in his post-race interview: Obviously we didn't get it right tonight I drove the strongest performance I was capable of, as quick as I possible, but there was nothing left out there Attempted my best but couldn't secure victory

The race winner said: This was an amazing performance for us Our team executed the correct decision to box It was smart Furthermore extremely pleased to win here and stay in the fight to the end, remarkable

Ultimate Race Standings

• 1. Verstappen (Red Bull)
• 2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren Racing)
• 3. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
• 4. Norris (McLaren)
• 5. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
• 6. George Russell (Mercedes)
• 7. Alonso (Aston Martin F1)
• 8. Charles Leclerc (Scuderia Ferrari)
• 9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
• 10. Tsunoda (Red Bull)

What's Next?

The all-important championship finale at the Yas Marina This venue does not produce the most thrilling racing, but yet again this twilight race features an contest which promises to be every bit as dramatic as Vettel's maiden championship in twenty-ten, or the Dutch driver's much-debated first title in twenty-twenty-one