P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Piastri wins first F1 race in Qatar sprint as Verstappen takes title
Max Verstappen won the Formula 1 world championship for the third consecutive year in the Qatar Grand Prix sprint, but Oscar Piastri claimed his first F1 race win and McLaren’s first in two years. The race was defined by a split in tyre choices, with some drivers on softs and others on mediums. Piastri, on mediums, held the lead at the start while Verstappen and Lando Norris, also on mediums, fell back. Verstappen quickly passed Norris and climbed to fifth before a safety car was deployed due to Liam Lawson spinning into the gravel. The race featured two more safety car periods, with Piastri easily reclaiming the lead and Verstappen cruising past the Ferraris to move into third. However, Verstappen’s title was sealed when his teammate Sergio Perez was involved in a three-car crash. Piastri maintained his lead after the restart and secured his first F1 win, with Verstappen finishing second. Norris finished third, followed by Russell, Hamilton, Sainz, Leclerc, Albon, Alonso, and Gasly.
Source: The Race
