Verstappen wins Qatar Grand Prix ahead of Leclerc, Piastri

Verstappen wins Qatar Grand Prix ahead of Leclerc, Piastri

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen followed up his Formula 1 drivers’ title with another win on Sunday in an incident-packed Qatar Grand Prix as Lando Norris was hit with a penalty that ended his chances of victory.

Charles Leclerc was second for Ferrari and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri third.

Max Verstappen leads Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc during the Qatar Grand Prix.Credit: Getty Images

The Dutch driver, who’d been dropped from pole to second place after an incident with George Russell in qualifying, got his revenge on the Mercedes driver off the line in the race.

Verstappen got alongside Russell to take the inside line into the first corner, then fended off a challenge from Norris into the next turn.

The race was packed with incidents as the safety car came out three times and Norris was dropped to the back of the field with a penalty for failing to slow under yellow warning flags.

Verstappen, who won his fourth consecutive title in Las Vegas last week, has won two of the last three races after not having had a victory since June before that.

AP

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