Max Verstappen triumphs in Qatar

Max Verstappen claimed his ninth win of the season at the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday, following up his recent Formula 1 drivers’ title with a dominant performance. Despite a race full of hazards — ranging from smashed mirrors and crashes to unusually severe penalties — Verstappen steered clear of the chaos to take the victory.

Lando Norris, who had been Verstappen’s closest title rival until the Dutch driver secured the championship in Las Vegas last week, was chasing Verstappen for the lead when he was handed a penalty for failing to slow under yellow warning flags. This dropped Norris to the back of the field, eliminating his chances.

After the race, Verstappen said, “It was a lot of fun out there. Very happy. It’s been a while in the dry to be this competitive. Very proud of everyone within the team.”

Penalties, controversies

The stewards played a key role in the race, with several penalties issued for various infractions, sparking debate among team principals. Norris’ penalty for not slowing under yellow flags was particularly contentious.