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The championship contender benefited from a tactical decision from McLaren that flew in the face of decisions made by every other team during an initial safety car deployment

This proved to be a expensive choice that gave up track position to Verstappen in the final stages and in hindsight cost the victory for Piastri

Race Results and Championship Implications

Verstappen won to take his seventh victory of the campaign, equalling Norris and Piastri, while the Australian was runner-up and the Briton fourth behind the Williams car of the Spanish driver

Norris earned an additional points by overtaking the Mercedes driver's Silver Arrow on the penultimate lap

The championship leader has been left with a twelve point advantage over his rival, who overtook Piastri by four points heading to the final race on December 5-7

To secure the title, the British driver must secure a podium position at Abu Dhabi if Verstappen wins the race next Sunday

Critical Moments of the Dramatic Race

• McLaren's choice not to stop when a yellow flag was called on lap seven for a crash between the French team's Gasly and the Swiss team's Hulkenberg
• A strategy led by Piastri to advance his final stop in a last-ditch effort to catch the leader proved unsuccessful
• A unexpected podium finish for Sainz gifted by McLaren's strategy call

How The British Team Lost Out in The Race

The critical point for the team was when Gasly and Hulkenberg came together as the German tried to overtake the Gasly around the exterior of the first corner on the seventh lap

Hulkenberg's car was damaged beside the track This triggered the safety car

The crucial part of the timing was that it meant there were 50 laps left in the race

With the tire manufacturer enforcing a twenty-five lap maximum usage on the tyres, that meant anyone who made a stop at that time was locked into a rigid strategy with a second stop on lap 32

Driver Responses and After the Event Comments

No words

Piastri added in his after-race interview: Clearly we made mistakes tonight My driving was the strongest performance I was capable of, as quick as I could, but there was nothing left out there Tried my best but didn't get it done

The race winner said: That represented an amazing performance for us Our team executed the correct decision to box It was smart Furthermore extremely pleased to win here and remain competitive to the end, incredible

Final Race Standings

• 1. Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
• 2. Piastri (McLaren)
• 3. Sainz (Williams)
• 4. Lando Norris (McLaren)
• 5. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
• 6. George Russell (Mercedes)
• 7. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin F1)
• 8. Charles Leclerc (Scuderia Ferrari)
• 9. Lawson (Racing Bulls)
• 10. Tsunoda (Red Bull Racing)

What's Next?

The crucial title decider at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina This venue does not create the most thrilling competition, but once again this twilight race hosts an contest which promises to be every bit as dramatic as Vettel's maiden championship in 2010, or the Dutch driver's highly controversial initial championship in 2021