Verstappen claims ninth win of the season in Qatar as McLaren faces penalty setback
Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix on December 1, marking his ninth victory of the Formula One season. This win comes after he was penalized with a grid drop for driving too slowly during qualifying. McLaren's Lando Norris received a 10-second penalty for speeding under yellow flags, dropping him from second to tenth place. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished second, while McLaren's Oscar Piastri took third. The constructors' title race between McLaren and Ferrari remains tight, with McLaren's lead reduced to 21 points. Lewis Hamilton faced multiple penalties, finishing 12th in his penultimate race for Mercedes. His teammate Sergio Perez did not finish the race. The event featured several crashes and three safety car periods, impacting the race's dynamics.