F1 | Qatar GP – Max Verstappen keeps the dream alive, Ferrari out of hope: the key points from Lusail. Max Verstappen dominated the Qatar Grand Prix to keep the title fight alive.

In Qatar, Max Verstappen claimed a commanding victory and cut the gap to Lando Norris, McLaren played with fire on a decisive strategic call, and Ferrari saw no signs of recovery. Here are the key points from Sunday’s race at Lusail.

Amid drama, bold gambles and costly misjudgements, the Qatar Grand Prix highlighted a Formula 1 where clarity, timing and courage matter just as much as pure performance. At Lusail, Red Bull proved once again the team best able to read an unpredictable race, giving Max Verstappen a crucial win that keeps the championship alive all the way to the final round. In contrast, McLaren and Ferrari leave Qatar with more doubts than certainties, while the championship closes up dramatically: Lando Norris leads on 408 points, with Max Verstappen at 396 and Oscar Piastri at 392.

Verstappen dominates in Lusail

The Qatar GP confirmed Max Verstappen as the most complete driver on the grid, combining raw speed with an outstanding ability to read the race. The turning point arrived on lap seven: the Safety Car came out following the Gasly–Hülkenberg collision, and Max Verstappen reacted instantly by diving into the pits for an early stop. McLaren did not respond, keeping both Norris and Piastri out—a decision that ultimately compromised their race and shaped the final outcome.

With fresh tyres and a consistently strong pace, Max Verstappen charged towards the 70th victory of his career, while his rivals were left chasing. The championship is now wide open: Max heads to Abu Dhabi just 12 points behind the leader, sending a clear message—the battle will go down to the final corner.

Ferrari, another bitter night

For Ferrari, the Lusail weekend was yet another chapter in a difficult season marked by an unstable, underperforming SF-25. Charles Leclerc narrowly avoided a collision in the first corners and finished only eighth, while Lewis Hamilton, despite a strong start, gradually faded to twelfth place. No highlights, no surprises: the Ferrari looked slow, nervous and miles away from the title fight. Fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship now feels all but inevitable, and everything suggests that the SF-25 project will soon be archived as one of the most challenging of the modern era.

McLaren and the strategy that slipped away

The Qatar GP left McLaren with a bitter aftertaste. With a competitive car and an outstanding Oscar Piastri, the team had the ingredients for a potentially perfect race. Yet at the decisive moment, the team chose not to pit under the Safety Car, ignoring an opportunity that Red Bull seized without hesitation.

The lack of clear team orders made things worse: Norris was stuck behind Oscar Piastri in the early stages, and the “flexible” strategy turned into a costly mistake. Oscar Piastri finished second but missed out on a well-deserved victory, while Norris salvaged only fourth place thanks to a late error by Antonelli. McLaren now arrives in Abu Dhabi with two drivers still in contention for the title, but both at a disadvantage, betrayed by a costly night that could ultimately decide the championship.