Max Verstappen takes the win in Qatar

A very eventful race marked by several controversial decisions by the FIA. Despite the circumstances, Max Verstappen took the victory, standing out with an incredible performance. Completing the podium were Charles Leclerc in second place and Oscar Piastri in third.

Photo: Red Bull Racing

From the start, the race was marked by multiple problems. In the first corner, an incident left Franco Colapinto and Esteban Ocon out of competition. Later, other drivers also had to abandon: Lance Stroll, Checo Pérez, Nico Hülkenberg and Alex Albon. A complicated day full of setbacks on the track.

The race was also marked by numerous penalties, some justified and others highly questionable. Furthermore, the appearance of three Safety Cars considerably influenced the development of the competition, generating multiple circumstances that surprisingly altered the results. Clashes between drivers, friction and exciting duels on the track added even more drama to the event.

The most controversial penalty was the one imposed on Lando Norris, who received 10 seconds for allegedly accelerating under a yellow flag. This penalty, considered excessive by many, drastically relegated him from second position to last place on the grid, completely altering his performance in the race.

Despite the harsh penalty, Lando Norris managed to climb back to tenth position, also securing the fastest lap of the race. With this performance, he added two valuable points for the team and the championships, demonstrating his ability to overcome adversity.

The controversy over the decisions in this race arose mainly from an incident that occurred in the middle of the competition. A mirror detached from one of the cars remained in the middle of the track for approximately five laps without the Safety Car being deployed. Finally, it was activated only after Valtteri Bottas ran over the piece, which caused damage to his single-seater, in addition to punctures in the tires of Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz.

The FIA ​​has been harshly questioned for the delay in deploying the Safety Car in a situation that, according to the rules, required an immediate response to guarantee safety on the track. Additionally, adding to the criticism is the drastic 10-second penalty imposed on Lando Norris, a decision that, as mentioned above, has generated great controversy among teams, drivers and fans.

On the other hand, Pierre Gasly had an incredible race, scoring 10 points for Alpine. Thanks to this result, the French team surpasses Haas in the Constructors' Championship, placing itself in sixth position.

The big surprise of the day was Zhou Guanyu, chosen Driver of the Day, who achieved an outstanding eighth place. This result marks the first time Sauber has scored points this season, taking four valuable points for the team.

As for the leaders, the results of Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren have left Red Bull out of the fight for the Constructors' Championship. On the other hand, Ferrari managed to surpass McLaren by a single point in this race, extending its lead to 21 points. The outcome of the championship will be decided in the last race of the season, in Abu Dhabi, next weekend.