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

This proved to be a expensive choice that gave up track position to the Red Bull driver in the closing laps and in hindsight cost the victory for Piastri

Grand Prix Outcome and Title Consequences

Verstappen triumphed to take his seventh win of the campaign, matching Norris and Piastri, while the Piastri was runner-up and the Briton in fourth behind the Williams of the Spanish driver

Norris won himself an extra two points by passing Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes on the second-to-last lap

Norris has been maintained a 12-point lead over Verstappen, who overtook his teammate by four points heading to the final race on December 5-7

To win the championship, the British driver must finish at least third at Yas Marina if Verstappen takes victory next race day

Key Events of the Thrilling Race

• McLaren's decision not to pit when a yellow flag was deployed on the seventh lap for a crash between Alpine's Gasly and the Swiss team's Hulkenberg
• A decision led by Piastri to bring forward his final stop in a last-ditch effort to challenge Verstappen proved unsuccessful
• A surprise podium finish for the Williams driver gifted by the team's tactical decision

How The British Team Missed Out in The Race

The critical moment for McLaren was when the two drivers came together as the German tried to pass the Gasly around the exterior of the first corner on the seventh lap

Hulkenberg's car was damaged beside the circuit This triggered the yellow flag

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

With Pirelli imposing a twenty-five lap maximum usage on the tyres, that meant anyone who made a stop at that moment was committed to a fixed plan with a second stop on lap 32

Competitor Responses and Post-Race Statements

No words

Piastri added in his after-race interview: Obviously we didn't get it right tonight I drove the best race I could, as fast as I possible, but there was no more pace out there Tried my utmost but didn't get it done

Verstappen said: This was an amazing performance for us Our team executed the right call to box That proved intelligent Furthermore super-happy to win here and stay in the fight to the end, remarkable

Ultimate Race Standings

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

Looking Ahead

The all-important title decider at the Yas Marina Circuit The circuit itself does not produce the most thrilling racing, but once again this evening event hosts an event which appears set to become every bit as thrilling as Sebastian Vettel's first title in 2010, or Verstappen's much-debated initial championship in twenty-twenty-one