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Verstappen benefited from a tactical decision from McLaren that contradicted decisions made by all other squads during an initial safety car period

It was a expensive choice that gave up track position to Verstappen in the final stages and retrospectively cost the victory for Piastri

Grand Prix Outcome and Title Consequences

The race winner won to take his seventh victory of the season, matching the McLaren drivers, while the Piastri was runner-up and the British driver fourth behind the Williams of the Spanish driver

Norris won himself an additional points by overtaking the Mercedes driver's Mercedes on the second-to-last lap

The championship leader has been maintained a twelve point advantage over his rival, who moved ahead of his teammate by four points heading to Abu Dhabi on December 5-7

To secure the championship, the British driver must finish at least third at Yas Marina if his rival takes victory next Sunday

Critical Moments of the Thrilling Grand Prix

• McLaren's decision not to pit when a yellow flag was called on lap seven for a crash between Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg
• A decision led by Piastri to advance his final stop in a desperate attempt to challenge Verstappen came to nothing
• A unexpected podium finish for the Williams driver handed by the team's strategy call

The Way The British Team Missed Out in The Race

The fateful point for McLaren was when the two drivers collided as the Hulkenberg tried to overtake the Gasly around the outside of Turn One on lap seven

Hulkenberg's car was damaged beside the circuit This triggered the yellow flag

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

With Pirelli imposing a 25-lap maximum usage on the tyres, that meant anyone who made a stop at that moment was committed to a rigid strategy with a additional pit stop on the thirty-second lap

Driver Responses and After the Event Comments

No words

The McLaren driver commented in his after-race conversation: Obviously we made mistakes tonight I drove the best race I was capable of, as quick as I possible, but there was no more pace out there Tried my utmost but didn't get it done

Verstappen said: This was an incredible race for us Our team executed the right call to box That proved smart Furthermore extremely pleased to win here and stay in the fight to the head, remarkable

Ultimate Race Positions

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

What's Next?

The all-important championship finale at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit This venue does not produce the most thrilling competition, but yet again this evening event features an contest which appears set to become every bit as dramatic as Vettel's maiden championship in 2010, or the Dutch driver's highly controversial first title in twenty-twenty-one