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Verstappen capitalized on a tactical decision from the British team that contradicted 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 the Red Bull driver in the final stages and in hindsight cost the race win for Piastri

Race Outcome and Championship Implications

Verstappen won to take his 7th victory of the season, matching the McLaren drivers, while the Australian was second and the British driver in fourth behind the Williams of the Spanish driver

The McLaren driver earned an extra two points by overtaking Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes on the second-to-last lap

Norris has been left with a 12-point lead over Verstappen, who moved ahead of Piastri by four points heading to the final race on 5-7 December

To secure the title, Norris must secure a podium position at Yas Marina if his rival wins the race next race day

Key Moments of the Thrilling Grand Prix

• McLaren's decision not to pit when a safety car was called on lap seven for a collision between Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Sauber's Hulkenberg
• A strategy initiated by Piastri to bring forward his final stop in a desperate attempt to catch Verstappen came to nothing
• A surprise second podium for Sainz handed by the team's strategy call

The Way The British Team Missed Out in The Race

The critical point for McLaren was when Gasly and Hulkenberg came together as the German tried to pass the Frenchman around the outside of Turn One on lap seven

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

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

With the tire manufacturer enforcing a 25-lap safety limit on the tyres, that signified anyone who made a stop at that time was locked into a fixed plan with a second stop on lap 32

Driver Responses and After the Event Comments

Speechless

Piastri commented in his post-race conversation: Obviously we made mistakes tonight My driving was the best race I could, as fast as I possible, but there was nothing left out there Tried my utmost but didn't get it done

Verstappen stated: That represented an incredible race for us Our team executed the correct decision to box It was smart And extremely pleased to win here and stay in the fight to the head, incredible

Final Race Positions

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

Looking Ahead

The crucial championship finale at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit The circuit itself does not create the most exciting racing, but yet again this evening event hosts an event which promises to be every bit as dramatic as Vettel's maiden championship in 2010, or the Dutch driver's highly controversial first title in 2021