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Giles Richards\u2019 race report is here:<\/p>\n
Thanks a lot for reading and for all the emails. That was a terrible race in many ways, but for all that, I will be tuning in for the season finale next week \u2026 funny old game.<\/p>\n
Good night.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.06 EST<\/p>\n \u201cDavid Coulthard even said yesterday that if there was a safety car early, everyone would pit,\u201d emails Kevin.<\/p>\n \u201dThey should\u2019ve watched Channel 4 highlights. Marginal gains.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s tough,\u201d says Norris. \u201cWe have to have faith in the team. It was a gamble. Now it\u2019s the wrong decision. We didn\u2019t do a good job today \u2026 not our finest day but that\u2019s life.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s nothing to do with the team trying to play fair. Nothing to do with it. Everyone goes on about it.<\/p>\n \u201cRed Bull did a better job as a team. They made the right call. We know why we didn\u2019t make the right decision. You can\u2019t get them all right. If the team does their job, and I do mine, we\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a disappointing result overall,\u201d says Andrea Stella of McLaren. \u201cWe lost the victory with Oscar and the podium with Lando, definitely not what we wanted. We have to review the decision during the safety car on lap seven<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a decision not to pit. We didn\u2019t expect everyone else to pit. It would have been the right decision to pit, when you are the lead car, you don\u2019t know what everyone else is going to do.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a decision. As a matter of fact, it wasn\u2019t the correct decision.<\/p>\n \u201cThe flexibility was \u2013 any other safety car would put us in a very strong position.<\/p>\n \u201cIt worked well for everyone stopping at lap seven. That\u2019s what it is. We thought the pace in the car might allow us to open enough of a gap. We could not exploit the pace of the car. Not the desired outcome.<\/p>\n \u201cYou need to have a plan for the safety car. When it\u2019s so late in a lap, it doesn\u2019t give you a chance \u2026 but it\u2019s not an excuse.<\/p>\n \u201cWe understand Oscar being extremely disappointed. He\u2019s been fast, solid, consistent, he\u2019s done everything right. Likewise Lando. We want to keep the options open for all our drivers.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is still in our hands. It comes down to the quality of our work \u2026 we go very determined into the finale of this season.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI was thinking,\u201d emails Michael. (That\u2019s always dangerous, by the way.)<\/p>\n \u201c \u2026 McLaren must have a plan, a strategy where they valued having their cars in P1 and P2 more than the pit stop. Surely there is a plan, right?<\/p>\n \u201cNarrator voice: \u201cThere was no plan.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIf one were of a conspiracy mindset, a grand choreographing of this and the previous race would seem eminently plausible,\u201d writes Darryl. \u201cA big fix taking the title fight to the final race all for \u201centertainment\u201d value? Or of course one could just put it all down to the sheer stupidity that McLaren and their drivers have shown at crucial points all season.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cLooking like another F1 stitch up in Abu Dhabi to me,\u201d emails John.<\/p>\n \u201cDiscuss.\u201d<\/p>\n Oh, I am sure they (we?) will.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAnd the dorsal fin is right behind McLaren,\u201d emails Joris van Wijk.<\/p>\n A shark. Photograph: Wildestanimal\/AlamyShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.48 EST<\/p>\n Latest drivers’ standings: top three<\/p>\n Norris 408pts<\/p>\n Verstappen 396pts<\/p>\n Piastri 392pts<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.06 EST<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so happy,\u201d says Carlos Sainz of Williams. \u201cSo proud of the whole team. We came into this weekend thinking it would be the most difficult of the year \u2026 I was super quick. We nailed the pace, the start, the strategy, I could not be more proud. We got everything right today. We improved in so many areas. There were opportunities today and we grabbed all of them. I am over the moon.\u201d<\/p>\n Williams driver Carlos Sainz. Photograph: Altaf Qadri\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Piastri has a chat: \u201cWe didn\u2019t get it right tonight. I drove the best race I could, as fast as I could, it wasn\u2019t to be tonight.<\/p>\n \u201cIn hindsight it\u2019s pretty obvious what we would have done [under the safety car]. We\u2019ll discuss it as a team.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a good weekend, the pace has been strong, it\u2019s a little bit tough to swallow at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThis was an incredible race for us,\u201d says Verstappen. \u201cWe made the right call as a team under the safety car. Super happy to win. We stay in the fight to the end. Incredible. For us it was a very strong race. It was a tough weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s an interesting move,\u201d Verstappen adds of McLaren\u2019s decision not to pit under the early safety car. \u201cI knew then we had a bit of a gap \u2026 still, you have to keep the tyres alive.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all possible now. We\u2019ll see. I don\u2019t really worry about it too much.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n So Verstappen, going into Abu Dhabi, is 12pts down on Norris.<\/p>\n \u201cI would love to be in the McLaren debrief,\u201d says Karun Chandhok.<\/p>\n This all feels pretty terrible for McLaren. It\u2019s going to be a tough week.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.35 EST<\/p>\n Qatar GP result<\/p>\n Verstappen<\/p>\n Piastri<\/p>\n Sainz<\/p>\n Norris<\/p>\n Antonelli<\/p>\n Russell<\/p>\n Alonso<\/p>\n Leclerc<\/p>\n Lawson<\/p>\n Tsunoda<\/p>\n Albon<\/p>\n Hamilton<\/p>\n Bortoleto<\/p>\n Colapinto<\/p>\n Ocon<\/p>\n Gasly<\/p>\n Stroll<\/p>\n Hadjar<\/p>\n Bearman<\/p>\n Hulkenberg<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cSpeechless,\u201d says Piastri. \u201cI don\u2019t have any words.\u201d<\/p>\n He ain\u2019t happy. And quite rightly.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cNot sure what happened to Antonelli, Max \u2026 it looks like he just pulled over and let him through,\u201d says someone on the Red Bull team of Norris taking fourth.<\/p>\n \u201cRegardless of that we will fight to the end. Well done Max.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell done on the strategy,\u201d says Verstappen. \u201cThat\u2019s a very lovely race, well done everyone,\u201d says Verstappen.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Max Verstappen wins the Qatar grand prix<\/p>\n His third consecutive win in Qatar.<\/p>\n Photograph: Jakub Porzycki\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.44 EST<\/p>\n Lap 57\/57: Norris moves up to fourth after Antonelli runs wide! That could be big.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 56\/57: An email titled: \u201cRe. F1 going downhill\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think you\u2019ve hit upon an idea there!\u201d writes Dan. \u201cWorks for skiing anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 55\/57:<\/p>\n Verstappen<\/p>\n Piastri +9.9sec<\/p>\n Sainz<\/p>\n Antonelli<\/p>\n Norris<\/p>\n Russell<\/p>\n Alonso<\/p>\n Leclerc<\/p>\n Lawson<\/p>\n Tsunoda<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 54\/57: The commentators are starting to discuss permutations for the final race. Norris is down in fifth. Verstappen is 10.9sec ahead of Piastri in second.<\/p>\n Norris has eight second places, which may prove important in certain scenarios.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 53\/57: F1 may well have been going downhill since 1979. But then again who hasn\u2019t?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 53\/57: \u201cIt may well be that 1mm wear on a skid block costs Norris the championship,\u201d emails Richard. \u201cResults changed long after the race. This is not a spectator sport.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe standing on the penultimate corner at Dijon in 1979 raised my expectations, but F1 has been going downhill ever since.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 52\/57:<\/p>\n The top five \u2013<\/p>\n Verstappen<\/p>\n Piastri +12sec<\/p>\n Sainz +10sec<\/p>\n Antonelli +2.7sec<\/p>\n Norris +.5sec<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.20 EST<\/p>\n Lap 51\/57: So in fairness, Piastri is shaving time off Verstappen\u2019s lead, but six more laps isn\u2019t going to be enough to make a difference.<\/p>\n Norris is still in fifth.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 50\/57: Piastri has reduced the gap to 12.9sec.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 48\/57: Norris is in fifth, after his second stop, trying to get past Sainz.<\/p>\n Verstappen leads by 14.3sec. He is home and hosed unless something astonishing happens.<\/p>\n \u201cJust use your pace now,\u201d Piastri is told.<\/p>\n This is ludicrous. They (McLaren) have completely messed this up. The commentators have been trying their best to maintain interest, and have farcically been hoping for another safety car to spice things up.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the race finished now, Verstappen would be 10 points behind Norris in the title race,\u201d says Brundle.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.16 EST<\/p>\n Lap 47\/57: \u201cI gave up F1 a while ago,\u201d writes Tim. \u201cThe new tracks are designed by the same guy and are similar and boring. The business seems to hate the old fun demanding tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 45\/57: Now Verstappen, Norris and Piastri have all pitted twice.<\/p>\n The F1 website says they are all on medium tyres, to perhaps the info about hard tyres for Piastri was wrong?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 45\/57: \u201cCould the McLarens do the same thing teams do in Monaco,\u201d emails Michael. \u201cNorris slows down so Piastri can pit, and then reverse?\u201d<\/p>\n An F1 car cannot reverse. (joking!)<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 43\/57: Piastri comes in for hard tyres. That\u2019s hard tyres. A 1.8sec stop.<\/p>\n Norris leads. Then Verstappen. Then Piastri.<\/p>\n \u201cOK Max,\u201d Verstappen is told on radio. \u201cIt\u2019s Oscar who is pitted early, and is looking to chase you down now.\u201d<\/p>\n THE RACE IS ON! (Or is it?)<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.08 EST<\/p>\n Lap 42\/57: Piastri is plotting something on the radio with him team. Are they going to pit and put soft tyres on?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 41\/57: Surely it would have been common sense for McLaren to pit if literally everyone else in the race pitted during the safety car? Even a relative F1 ignoramus like me can see that.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 40\/57: The Sky commentators have admitted defeat, and pointed out that Verstappen is going to win.<\/p>\n You were all well ahead of the game with your emails, so well done.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.04 EST<\/p>\n Lap 39\/57: \u201cThe races are becoming more about technical errors than real racing,\u201d emails Gordon. \u201cWe need more tracks where the drivers have a chance of really fighting for position and fewer that are predetermined by qualifying order barring penalties and poor pit lane decisions. It\u2019s getting boring.\u201d<\/p>\n Yes.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Top 10 right now:<\/p>\n Oscar Piastri<\/p>\n Lando Norris +7sec<\/p>\n Max Verstappen +2sec<\/p>\n Carlos Sainz<\/p>\n George Russell<\/p>\n Kimi Antonelli<\/p>\n Fernando Alonso<\/p>\n Isack Hadjar<\/p>\n Charles Leclerc<\/p>\n Lance Stroll<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 37\/57: \u201cThis is the bit of the race where we need to be quicker than Max,\u201d McLaren\u2019s drivers are told over the radio. Which may be easier said than done.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Top five as it stands<\/p>\n Piastri<\/p>\n Norris +4.7sec<\/p>\n Verstappen +8.1sec<\/p>\n Sainz +27sec<\/p>\n Antonelli +33sec<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 33\/57: LOADS of cars pitted just then. It looked like George Russell came close to a shunt of some kind as one of the Racing Bulls came in past him just as he finished his stop. Ted Kravitz says Russell in fact came close to hitting someone in the pit lane. Perhaps the stewards will have a look at it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 32\/57: \u201cGood afternoon,\u201d writes Bill Preston, which seems a fair enough opening gambit.<\/p>\n \u201cWith all the massive costs involved in the design and construction of modern racing tracks, surely there\u2019s employment enough for someone to say \u201cThere isn\u2019t sufficient space or safety margin with what we have for drivers to get stomp on and then with style, panache, and thrilling heroics have a several way tussle for the lead\u201d?<\/p>\n \u201cAt least Monaco has boats and stuff.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope Norris does well, but won\u2019t begrudge Verstappen a win.<\/p>\n \u201cYours, grumpily \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Lewis Hamilton on a boat in Monaco. Photograph: Florent Gooden\/DPPI\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.54 EST<\/p>\n Lap 32\/57: Lando Norris has been notified about breaching track limits twice. One more and he gets an official warning, two more and it\u2019s a five-second penalty. (Says the expert, Brundle.)<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Verstappen is going to pit \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 30\/57: \u201cThanks for the coverage – my only channel to follow the F1 unbiased,\u201d writes Peter. \u201cIt looks like McLaren\u2019s strategic mishap will make Abu Dabi the F1 thriller of the year, like it was with Lewis and Max having all to play for.\u201d<\/p>\n Yes, it\u2019s shaping up to be a Verstappen v Hamilton thriller, like the 2021 vintage.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 28\/57: Verstappen leads.<\/p>\n Verstappen +14.8sec<\/p>\n Sainz<\/p>\n Antonelli<\/p>\n Piastri<\/p>\n Norris<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 26\/57: Norris pits, a quick one at 2.2sec.<\/p>\n He reemerges on to the track, and only just holds off Alonso! Norris is fifth. Alonso sixth.<\/p>\n \u201cThat brings McLaren back into play a little bit,\u201d insists Brundle.<\/p>\n McLaren\u2019s Lando Norris in the pits. Photograph: Altaf Qadri\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.50 EST<\/p>\n Lap 25\/57: Piastri pits. Norris leads.<\/p>\n Piastri has gone to medium tyres.<\/p>\n Photograph: Mark Thompson\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.44 EST<\/p>\n Lap 24\/57: \u201cMax is a fierce defender, and McLaren may have just made a massive blunder,\u201d emails Ian. \u201cI can somewhat see the argument they wanted to make, but with these tyre limits, it simply wasn\u2019t the right call. The Dutch Lion may stay in this championship race til the end.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 23\/57: Keep the emails<\/a> coming. Tell me your views!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 23\/57: \u201cIf Norris wins he\u2019s the champion!\u201d says Croft on commentary.<\/p>\n That is a big if, based on what we\u2019re looking at.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.40 EST<\/p>\n Lap 21\/57: \u201cHowever much excitement Croft and Brundle try to manufacture from this, the result seems clear to me. Verstappen will win,\u201d emails James.<\/p>\n \u201cThe McLarens need to stop twice. Verstappen, and everyone else, only need to stop once more. Given races at this track are always a procession, all Verstappen has to do is manage his tyres and stay within 25 seconds of the McLarens. After all stops he\u2019ll be ahead on a track that\u2019s notoriously difficult to pass on.\u201d<\/p>\n Champers for Max? Photograph: Greg Nash\/UPI\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.38 EST<\/p>\n Lap 20\/57: I mean sure, you can argue there is intrigue in tyre and pitstop strategy, but the emphasis on it illustrates the sheer lack of drama elsewhere in this race.<\/p>\n I sincerely hope I eat my words and it\u2019s exciting at the end, but as it stands, Verstappen overtaking Norris into turn one is as thrilling as it\u2019s going to get.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.35 EST<\/p>\n Lap 19\/57: \u201cMax is going to win today. Total pit-stop blunder by McLaren,\u201d emails Ulrich. \u201cWill they never learn?\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.33 EST<\/p>\n Lap 17\/57: The only cars in the race who have not pitted are the McLarens. \u201cA safety car in the next seven or eight laps would take a lot of pressure off the McLaren situation,\u201d says Brundle.<\/p>\n It seems a bit farcical that none of this is about actual driving skill.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 16\/57: Leclerc is ninth, Hamilton is 14th. It\u2019s another poor weekend for the Ferraris who have struggled throughout.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 15\/57: Gasly is back in the race after that crash. But it\u2019s an early bath for Hulkenberg.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 13\/57:<\/p>\n Top 10 \u2013<\/p>\n Piastri +2sec Share<\/a><\/p>\n Lap 12\/57: Up front, Piastri leads by 1.2sec and seems to be pulling away from his teammate Norris.<\/p>\n \u201cThe teams are limited on 25 laps each for each set of tyres,\u201d explains Brundle. \u201cMcLaren have to get rid of these medium tyres at lap 25, they have to get everything out of them before that.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.24 EST<\/p>\n Lap 10\/57: So Norris is now second to Piastri following Verstappen\u2019s pitstop during the safety car. The received wisdom is that the safety car has worked out horribly for McLaren.<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels to me that McLaren have missed a trick,\u201d says Brundle on commentary.<\/p>\n What do you think? Email<\/a> me.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.22 EST<\/p>\n Lap 10\/57: McLaren have chosen not to pit during the safety car. Verstappen did, and has medium tyres on, that are two laps old right now.<\/p>\n \u201cExpect the McLarens to push hard after the restart\u201d Verstappen is told over the radio.<\/p>\n Hulkenberg\u2019s car is being hauled off the track now. The safety car is about to end.<\/p>\n Verstappen hits the pits. Photograph: Altaf Qadri\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.33 EST<\/p>\n Lap 9\/57: Gasly was right on Hulkenberg\u2019s tail into the corner. Hulkenberg\u2019s rear right corner was clipped by Gasly\u2019s front left wing.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t believe this,\u201d Hulkenberg says on the radio. *expletive bleeped out* \u201cUnbelievable. I gave [Gasly] him loads of space.\u201d<\/p>\n
Norris
Verstappen
Sainz
Antonelli
Alonso
Hadjar
Russell
Leclerc
Bearman<\/p>\n