P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lewis Hamilton was left shocked by Max Verstappen’s Qatar GP win that has blown the F1 title battle wide open going into the season finale.
Lewis Hamilton was left shocked by Max Verstappen’s Qatar Grand Prix win, which has blown the Formula 1 title battle wide open going into the season finale. Verstappen cruised to victory at the Lusail International Circuit on Sunday after a McLaren strategy gaffe left Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri stranded. The Dutchman’s seventh win of the season sees him close the gap in the standings to leader Norris to just 12 points heading into the final round in Abu Dhabi. The Red Bull driver needs to make it eight wins in 2025 and hope Norris finishes outside the top three to seal a fifth consecutive title. Hamilton, who continued to struggle with Ferrari’s troubled SF-25 challenger in Qatar, was left surprised by the 28-year-old’s charge. When informed about Verstappen’s victory, he exclaimed to media: “Max won? Oh sh*t, I didn’t know, I had no idea! Holy sh*t! Wow! I thought Piastri won… Well, that’s exciting! It goes right to the last – to the wire.”Lewis Hamilton has praised Max Verstappen’s title comeback amid points turnaround. Hamilton himself is no stranger to an epic title showdown, given his own experiences with the Red Bull driver at Abu Dhabi in 2021. The Briton heaped praise on the 28-year-old, especially in the context of how he and Red Bull mounted a sensational comeback to close a 104-point deficit. “We all know Max does a great job,” added Hamilton, commending Verstappen’s performance and acknowledging the quality of his team’s work.
