In the penultimate round of the Formula One season, the grid headed to the Persian Sea for the Qatar Grand Prix. Whilst the Driver’s Championship was secured previously over in Las Vegas by Red Bull superstar, Max Verstappen, the Constructor’s Championship is currently in contention between 3 teams as we head to the season finale in Abu Dhabi. McLaren are currently leading the race heading to Abu Dhabi, sitting on 640 points, Ferrari are not too far behind and will look to chase them down at Abu Dhabi as they are sat on 619 points, whilst over at Red Bull, to clinch the Constructor’s championship, they’re going to have to hope their cars have wings as they are sat on 581 points.
As the drivers lined up to get racing in Qatar, 5 red lights went, all drivers went racing, but not for long. Straight off the start leading into Turn 1, Haas driver, Niko Hulkenburg, had seemed to have caused some what of a “Chain Reaction” towards the back of the grid, by bumping into Alpine Driver, Esteban Ocon, who then lost control of his car and then from spinning out, hit Williams Driver, Franco Colapinto. That collision sent Ocon and Colapinto out of the race, with Hulkenburg seeming to come away the better, only sustaining a wheel puncture. Further into lap 1, Aston Martin driver, Lance Stroll also was part of the first lap chaos by tagging Williams Driver, Alex Albon, therefore sustaining damage and having to retire but due to the severity of the first lap madness, the Safety Car was deployed for the first time in the race. The safety car then proceeded to stay out until lap 3, which then at the end of the lap, the safety car made its way back to the pits and the grid could go racing again.
Over at Mercedes, 7-time World Champion, Lewis Hamilton, had a race to forget, by acquiring a penalty from the stewards due to a false start at lights out, another penalty for speeding in the pit lane, and then a puncture from debris on the track which dropped him down the order quite significantly. Hamilton pleaded to his garage to retire the car, but Mercedes persuaded Lewis to stay out and complete the race.
It was a similar fate for Ferrari driver, Carlos Sainz, who also picked up a puncture from the same debris which also kicked him down the order, but as for his Ferrari counterpart, Charles Leclerc, he managed to survive the debris and scored points for the Italian outfit, keeping their constructor’s championship winning hopes somewhat alive.
It was a race of mixed emotions over at McLaren, as Lando Norris started the race in P3, but due to the debris that was scattered down the main straight, the double yellows were deployed down the straight. Norris had failed to slow down through the double yellows, which then was penalised by the Stewards and was handed a 10 second Stop-and-Go penalty, which dropped Norris all the way to the back of the grid, but he had salvaged as far as P10, still ensuring he came away with some points. On the other hand, Oscar Piastri had a very solid race, finishing 3rd on the podium, behind Leclerc after the McLaren garage pitted Piastri one lap before yet another Safety Car was deployed. Other than some tyre issues with his front left wheel, his race was less eventful but could celebrate a podium come the chequered flag.
It was also a day of mixed emotions over at Red Bull, stating the obvious with Max Verstappen winning the Grand Prix with some conviction, by crossing the line 6 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc. Max winning in Qatar was his first win on dry tyres since the Spanish GP, his last win however, was over at Interlagos in Brazil, but was a fully wet race throughout. His RB counterpart, Sergio Perez, had a race to forget, even though starting the race in P9, due to being caught up in the middle of the pack, his car had lost its drive and ended up spinning his RB, which led to his eventual retirement from the race.
It all goes down to the wire in Abu Dhabi, with McLaren and Ferrari only being separated in the Constructor’s championship by 44 points. The driver’s championship race for second place between Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc is only separated by 9 points. Abu Dhabi is a must watch for those supporting either McLaren or Ferrari, as the race for second place and the Constructor’s championship, is still well and truly open.