Max Verstappen dominated Formula 1's Qatar Grand Prix, a race characterised by the drivers having mandated stint lengths for tyre safety reasons and the high-starting two Mercedes drivers colliding at Turn 1.
Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris finished second and third, with the former Verstappen's closest pursuer for much of the race and the latter charging up from starting 10th. At the start, Verstappen swooped over to cover George Russell's run to the inside of Turn 1 and as he moved left just behind the Red Bull's left rear, Lewis Hamilton – starting on the softs with the two front-row starters on mediums – attacked his Mercedes team-mate.
8s after he stopped for a third time to go back to the mediums on lap 51 – but his service ended up at a slightly sluggish 4.1s as Red Bull struggled to get his front left used hard off, did the most damage to the Dutchman's previous commanding gap over Piastri. Russell finished fourth having made four stops after this Turn 1 clash with Hamilton – able to catch the pack under the safety car during which he had his first service for more used mediums.
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