Verstappen wins Qatar Grand Prix as Ferrari narrows gap to McLaren in title race
Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix, showcasing a strong performance after struggling earlier in the weekend. Despite starting sixth, he quickly took the lead and maintained it, marking a significant turnaround for his team, Red Bull. McLaren's hopes for the Constructors’ Championship dimmed after Lando Norris received a ten-second penalty, dropping him to tenth place. Ferrari capitalized on this, outscoring McLaren and narrowing the gap to 21 points, setting up a decisive final race in Abu Dhabi. Alpine secured sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship, thanks to Pierre Gasly's fifth-place finish. Meanwhile, Sauber finally earned points this season with Zhou Guanyu finishing eighth, while VCARB slipped to eighth in the standings after a disappointing race.