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The championship contender benefited from a strategy call from the British team that flew in the face of decisions made by all other squads during an early race safety car period

This proved to be a expensive choice that gave up track position to Verstappen in the closing laps and retrospectively cost the race win for the Australian driver

Grand Prix Outcome and Championship Implications

Verstappen triumphed to take his seventh win of the campaign, matching Norris and Piastri, while the Australian was second and the British driver in fourth behind the Williams of Carlos Sainz

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

Norris has been maintained a 12-point lead over his rival, who moved ahead of his teammate by four points heading to the final race on 5-7 December

To secure the title, the British driver must finish at least third at Yas Marina if his rival wins the race next Sunday

Key Moments of the Dramatic Grand Prix

• McLaren's decision not to stop when a yellow flag was called on lap seven for a collision between Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Sauber's Hulkenberg
• A decision initiated by the Australian to advance his last pit stop in a last-ditch effort to catch the leader proved unsuccessful
• A unexpected podium finish for the Williams driver handed by McLaren's strategy call

How The British Team Lost Out in The Race

The critical moment for the team was when Gasly and Hulkenberg came together as the Hulkenberg tried to overtake the Gasly around the exterior of the first corner on lap seven

The German's car was left damaged beside the track That brought out the safety car

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

With Pirelli imposing a 25-lap maximum usage on the tyres, that signified anyone who pitted at that time was committed to a rigid strategy with a second stop on the thirty-second lap

Driver Reactions and After the Event Comments

Speechless

The McLaren driver commented in his post-race interview: Obviously we didn't get it right tonight My driving was the strongest performance I was capable of, as quick as I could, but there was no more pace out there Tried my utmost but didn't get it done

The race winner said: That represented an amazing performance for us Our team executed the right call to pit It was intelligent Furthermore super-happy to win here and remain competitive to the end, incredible

Ultimate Race Positions

• 1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
• 2. Piastri (McLaren)
• 3. Sainz (Williams Racing)
• 4. Lando Norris (McLaren)
• 5. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
• 6. George Russell (Mercedes-AMG)
• 7. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
• 8. Leclerc (Ferrari)
• 9. Lawson (Racing Bulls)
• 10. Tsunoda (Red Bull)

Looking Ahead

The all-important championship finale at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina This venue does not produce the most exciting racing, but once again this evening event features an event which promises to be every bit as thrilling as Vettel's first title in 2010, or the Dutch driver's much-debated first title in twenty-twenty-one