Max Verstappen wins chaotic Qatar Grand Prix.....

Max Verstappen wins chaotic Qatar Grand Prix….. read more

Max Verstappen secured a thrilling victory at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix, showcasing his skill and composure in a chaotic race at the Lusail International Circuit. Despite starting from P2 due to a grid penalty for impeding George Russell in qualifying, Verstappen made an immediate impact, seizing the lead at Turn 1 and never relinquishing it. He held off intense pressure from Lando Norris, who challenged him throughout the race, especially during multiple safety car restarts. Verstappen’s triumph marked his ninth victory of the season, further cementing his dominance in Formula 1.

Reflecting on his performance, Verstappen was full of praise for his team, expressing his pride in their ability to adapt and deliver a strong result. “The car felt a lot better in qualifying yesterday,” he said. “Today, the first stint was very fast, and I had great battles with Lando. It was a lot of fun out there. The track had a lot of grip, and the tyres held up well, so it was great to push them.” Verstappen also noted how the team managed to optimize the car’s setup quickly, making him even prouder of the result. “It’s been a while since we’ve been this competitive in the dry, and the team really deserved this victory.”

Verstappen faced a series of challenges during the race, especially after the safety car periods. The hard tyres, which were used after pit stops, proved difficult to handle, especially when they were cold following the safety car restarts. Verstappen described the difficulty of maintaining control, especially during the second restart. “There was very little grip on the hard tyres. Coming out of the box, they were cold, and behind the safety car, it’s hard to warm them up. I tried something different coming out of the last corner, but there was no rear grip, and it got a bit spicy in Turn 1.” Nevertheless, Verstappen managed to regain his composure and continued with solid pace to the finish line, crossing it six seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who finished in second place. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri rounded out the podium in third.

The race itself was a dramatic one, with a series of incidents and safety car periods shaking up the order. The race began with clear skies and a mild 19°C temperature, with all drivers except Nico Hülkenberg starting on medium tyres. Verstappen, who had qualified on pole position, had to start from P2 due to the penalty. At the start, Verstappen quickly overtook pole-sitter Russell, while Norris followed him into second, pushing Russell down to third. Behind the front-runners, chaos erupted as Nico Hülkenberg lost control of his Haas, causing a collision with Esteban Ocon and Franco Colapinto, both of whom were forced to retire. Hülkenberg limped back to the pits with a puncture. There was also a collision between Alexander Albon and Lance Stroll, though both were able to continue. A safety car was deployed to clear the wreckage.

After the safety car period ended on lap 5, Verstappen retained his lead while Piastri moved up to fourth. However, the race continued to be disrupted by several incidents. Liam Lawson spun while attempting to pass Valtteri Bottas, earning a 10-second penalty. Lance Stroll retired on lap 10, further diminishing the number of competitors in the race.

A major turning point occurred on lap 35, when both Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz suffered punctures, likely caused by debris from Albon’s damaged mirror. The safety car was deployed again, and Verstappen seized the opportunity to pit for hard tyres, still holding onto his lead. When the safety car came in on lap 40, Norris attempted an attack on Verstappen but was unable to overtake. Meanwhile, Sergio Pérez retired after a spin, and Hülkenberg’s spin caused yet another safety car period. This allowed Verstappen to once again defend his position, but Norris’s hopes of victory were dashed when he was handed a 10-second stop-and-go penalty for speeding under a yellow flag.

As the race resumed, Verstappen kept his cool and maintained his lead to the finish, crossing the line in first place ahead of Leclerc and Piastri. Norris, after serving his penalty, recovered to finish in tenth place. The final points positions were rounded out by George Russell in fourth, Pierre Gasly in fifth, and Carlos Sainz in sixth. Zhou Guanyu claimed his first points of the season for Sauber with an eighth-place finish.

The race result meant that the battle for the constructors’ championship would go down to the wire at the final race in Abu Dhabi. McLaren held a 21-point lead over Ferrari, while Red Bull Racing had already secured the drivers’ title but was out of contention for the constructors’ championship. Verstappen is now focused on maintaining his competitive edge for the season finale: “I hope we can be competitive in Abu Dhabi, and we will focus on every detail to optimize the car and fight for another win.”

Verstappen’s win in Qatar marked a remarkable conclusion to a thrilling race weekend, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the season finale in Abu Dhabi.