Qatar Grand Prix – The Editorial Team’s Hits and Misses
The Grand Prix of Qatar race was marked by several collisions, penalties, and punctures during the 56 laps at the Losail circuit. Max Verstappen won the race, ahead of Charles Leclerc (2nd) and Oscar Piastri (3rd).
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Sauber in the points
It’s the good surprise of the weekend, Sauber is in the points for the penultimate race of the 2024 season. It had been 14 months since the Swiss team scored points. The last time was also in Qatar, but in 2023. Sauber was even the only team not to have scored this season. But it is only a bad memory since Guanyu Zhou finished in eighth place on Sunday, taking advantage of the five retirements and race incidents. A magnificent performance for the one who will leave the team at the end of the season. Valtteri Bottas finished 11th. It may be the best performance for Sauber this year. Something to give hope for the future.
A season of hard work making it a weekend to remember 💚#QatarGP 🇶🇦 pic.twitter.com/miFvNMOOun
— Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber (@stakef1team_ks) December 1, 2024
Pierre Gasly achieves a new performance
After his brilliant podium finish in Sao Paulo, Pierre Gasly did not repeat the feat in Losail during the Qatar Grand Prix, which was won by Max Verstappen. However, starting from 11th position, the Frenchman still delivered a very solid performance. He was in 9th place for a long time at the beginning of the race, taking advantage of incidents on the track and a well-timed pit stop to climb up the rankings. Before the final restart of the race, he was in 6th place, which he turned into 5th thanks to a penalty imposed on Lando Norris. With skillful defenses, Pierre Gasly maintained this position, giving Alpine valuable 10 points in their battle with Haas for 6th place in the constructor’s championship. Once again, he outperformed his teammate Esteban Ocon, who was forced to retire very early in the race. An unfinished race that marks the end of his journey with Alpine.
Back 🆙 to P6 in the Constructors’ Championship 👆
Get in there 💪 pic.twitter.com/ShvTm7NBZP
— BWT Alpine Formula One Team (@AlpineF1Team) December 1, 2024
Ferrari is back on McLaren
The Losail International Circuit, with its high-speed layout, was not supposed to suit the Ferrari, a car more suited to low-speed corners. But McLaren’s strategy and misfortune combined to reverse the trend of the Italian team. Starting from fifth, Charles Leclerc drove a flawless race to secure second place behind Max Verstappen. Carlos Sainz’s race was disrupted by a puncture caused by debris from the mirror lost by Alex Albon. Ferrari scored more points than McLaren, the British team being penalized by a 10-second stop-and-go penalty imposed on Lando Norris for ignoring yellow flags. With McLaren leading Ferrari by 21 points, the season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi promises an exciting battle.
Signing out of the final Sprint weekend of the year 📸#QatarGP 🇶🇦 #F1 pic.twitter.com/hBbeNatBV8
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) December 1, 2024
Flop
Race direction
The race, until now quite monotonous, took an unexpected turn when Alex Albon lost one of the mirrors of his Williams in the middle of the race. He found himself on the straight, where cars reach speeds exceeding 320 km/h. However, the race direction did not react immediately, seeming busy elsewhere. The situation worsened when a Sauber driver ran over the mirror, shattering it into pieces and scattering carbon debris on the track. Shortly after, Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz suffered punctures, which ultimately led to the deployment of a safety car, very late given the obvious danger that would have justified a much faster intervention. This error in judgment comes in a tense context between the FIA and the drivers.
The FIA are a disgrace and an embarrassment 😡
How can you just let racing go on with a wing mirror on the track.
Sainz and Hamilton picked up punctures from it and then a safety car occurs
We need a full investigation into the FIA.#F1 | #FIA | #QatarGP | #Sainz | #Hamilton pic.twitter.com/acSNfnZInq
— RAF7 (@raf7sports) December 1, 2024
A Grand Prix to forget for Lewis Hamilton.
Lewis Hamilton was lacking motivation this weekend. While Ferrari is waiting for him and he seems eager to join the Scuderia, he still has to finish the season with Mercedes. His race on Sunday was marked by a series of mishaps. A false start resulting in a five-second penalty, a puncture halfway through the race, and above all, a clear desire to give up eight laps from the finish, showing his annoyance. A rare occurrence for the seven-time World Champion. In the end, he finished 12th, far from his expectations. He now has only one race left with Mercedes before turning the page and opening a new chapter in his career.
Tough race. One to go.
We’ll be giving our all to finish on a high. pic.twitter.com/yMSyCMk86i
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) December 1, 2024
Lando Norris penalized
The British driver had a difficult race in Qatar. Engaged in an intense battle for first place with Max Verstappen, he received the most severe penalty possible in Formula 1, a 10-second stop and go, for failing to slow down under red flag conditions. A costly mistake as the McLaren driver had to climb back up to finish in a slight tenth place. Just when he thought his bad weekend was over, the FIA decided to penalize him a second time, after the race. Lando Norris lost three points on his Super License. A weekend to forget in order to focus on the final race of the championship where he will have to give it his all to help his team secure the constructor’s title.
This team. 🧡
Time to debrief and go again for the final week! 👊#QatarGP 🇶🇦 pic.twitter.com/hT0rLex16y
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) December 1, 2024
