P1racenews AI automatic summary:
A ‘two extremes’ triumph may have transformed F1’s closest fight
team made a strategic decision to pursue two extremes. Valtteri Bottas was called in for an early pitstop, allowing him to complete the race on just two more pitstops. This bold move paid off, as he finished in eighth place. Zhou Guanyu, on the other hand, ran a full 18-lap stint on his starting tyres, setting him up for a late pitstop that boosted him to ninth place. This strategy allowed Alfa Romeo to earn their biggest point haul of the season. With this result, the team moved up to eighth place in the constructors’ championship, closing the gap to Williams to just seven points. This battle for seventh place is crucial, as each position in the standings is worth over $10 million, making the difference between seventh and tenth significant. Alfa Romeo’s performance in Qatar is a step in the right direction, as they aim to make progress quickly and become a serious contender as Audi in 2026.”
Source: The Race
