Qatar GP 2024
DECEMBER 1, 2024
Race Notes - Verstappen wins, Norris penalised
© Red Bull
By Mark Karp
Max Verstappen in the Red Bull-Honda won tonights Qatar Grand Prix, after leading the race after passing Russell in the first corner of the race.
After a race of controversial penalties Charles Leclerc took second place in his Ferrari, 6.031 seconds behind. Oscar Piastri in the McLaren-Mercedes finished third, 6.819 seconds behind the winner.
Verstappen took his ninth win of the season, and 62nd career victory.
George Russell (14.104s) in the Mercedes GP finished fourth, followed by Pierre Gasly (16.7782s) in the Alpine-Renault was fifth, Carlos Sainz (17.476s) in the seconds Ferrari was sixth, Fernando Alonso (19.867s) in the Aston Martin-Mercedes was seventh, Guanyu Zhou (25.360s) in the Sauber-Ferrari was eighth, Kevin Magnussen (32.177s) in the Haas-Ferrari was ninth, and Lando Norris (35.762s) in the second McLaren, after his penalty took the tenth place, and fastest lap.
Before the start, with the sun going down, with a one place penalty for Verstappen, Russell starts from the top position, with Verstappen alongside on the front row, Norris and Piastri on row 2, Leclerc and Hamilton on row 3, Sainz and Alonso on row 4, and Perez and Magnussen rounding out the top ten.
It is expected that drivers will take a one-stop strategy for the race, most looking for a medium-hard combination. All drivers starting on medium tyres, except Hulkenberg on hard tyres.
At the appointed time the drivers got in their cars, the grid cleared and the drivers took to the formation lap, lined up on the grid, the lights went out, and the race began with Russell got into the lead, but Verstappen passes him into the first corner, Norris passes Russell into second.
Later in the lap Ocon and Colapinto are stranded in a corner, the Safety Car is out.
Hulenberg came together with Colapinto and Ocon and he limps around with a flat tyre.
Later in the lap Stroll and Albon come together, and Albon is stranded.
Verstappen leads Norris, Russell, Leclerc, Piastri, Sainz, Perez, Alonso, Hamilton, and Tsunoda in tenth place.
On the start of lap 5 the Safety Car came in the race resumed with Verstappen takes the lead. Lawson spins but continues. Piastri gets past Leclerc for fourth.
Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m26.726s.
Hamilton passes Alonso for eighth. Alonso continues to fallback to 12th.
Verstappen sets another fast lap at 126.502s, and leads Norris by 1.3 seconds.
Stroll is given a 10-second penalty for contact.
Stroll pits, then pits again the next lap and retires.
Hamilton is being investigated for a false start.
At lap 10 Verstappen leads Norris by 2.0 seconds, followed by Rissell (3.2s), Piastri (4.0s), Leclerc (7.4s), Sainz (8.8s), Perez (11.5s), Hamilton (12.6s), Magnussen (18.8s), and Tsunoda (20.4s) in tenth.
Lawson is handed a 10-second penalty.
On lap 13 Gasly passes Tsunoda for tenth.
Norris sets fast lap at 1m25.794s.
Hamilton is given a 5-second penalty for a false start.
Leclerc sets fast lap at 1m25.660s.
Alonso passes Tsunoda for 11th.
On lap 15 Norris sets fast lap at 1m25.535s, and again the next lap at 1m25.508s.
Russell run wide at the final corner but continues.
Leclerc complains about his tyre pressures.
On lap 17 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m25.079s.
Hamilton complains that his car is running slower than those around him.
On lap 20 Bottas passes Tsunoda for 13th.
At lap 20 Verstappen leads Norris by 1.8 seconds, followed by Russell (7.3s), Piastri (8.8s), Leclerc (11.0s), Sainz (13.3s), Perez (19.9s), Hamilton (22.8s), Magnussen (32.9s), and Gasly (34.4s) in tenth place.
On lap 22 Norris sets fast lap at 1m24.865s.
On lap 23 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m24.856s.
Russell pits from third, has a slow pitstop for hard tyres and rejoins 11th.
On lap 24 Norris sets fast lap at 1m24.670s.
On lap 25 Bottas pits for hard tyres and rejoins 17th.
On lap 26 Norris sets fast lap at 1m24.537s.
Both Mercedes are complaining that their cars aren’t turning into corners well.
Russell is stuck behind Alonso in ninth.
At lap 30 Verstappen leads Norris by 1.8 seconds, followed by Piastri (10.1s), Leclerc (12.3s), Sainz (16.6s), Perez (27.3s), Hamilton (30.4s), Gasly (44.6s), Alonso (48.9s), and Russell (49.8s) in tenth place.
Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m24.413s.
On lap 32 Hulkenberg pits.
On lap 33 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m24.350s, and he leads Norris by 2.6 seconds.
On lap 34 Hamilton has a puncture and limps back to the pits. Sainz has a puncture as well. Piastri pits from third and rejoins fifth. Sainz pits and rejoins tenth.
The Safety Car is out, Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc and Hamilton pit.
Perez, Gasly, Russell, Alonso, Zhou, Tsunoda, Albon, and Lawson all pit.
Behind the Safety Car Verstappen leads Norris, Leclerc, Piastri, Perez, Gasly, Russell, Sainz, Zhou, and Alonso in tenth place, followed by Magnussen, Tsunoda, Albon, Hulkenberg, Lawson, Hamilton and Botas in 19th.
At the start of lap 40 the Safety Car comes in and the race resumes with Verstappen leading, Norris goes side-by side, but Verstappen keeps the lead.
Perez spins and gets stuck in the gravel on the side of the track, Hulkenberg spins and is out. Tsunoda and Lawson pit for soft tyres
In the Safety Car Verstappen leads Norris, Leclerc, Piastri, Russell, Gasly, Sainz, Alonso, Zhou and Magnussen in tenth.
At the start of lap 43 the Safety Car is in, and Verstappen takes the leads. Leclerc tries to pass Norris, but can’t get by.
Piastri reports that he has a vibration in his front left tyre.
Norris is given a 10-second stop-go penalty for not slowing under the yellow flag earlier/
On lap 44 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m23.473s.
Norris pits from second for his penalty, serves his penalty, and rejoins 15th.
On lap 45 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m23.393s.
Hamilton is given a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pitlane.
On lap 47 Norris sets fast lap at 1m22.936s, and again at 1m22.640s.
Hamilton wants to retires his car but the term tells him to stay out.
At lap 50 Verstappen leads Lecclerc by 4.3 seconds, followed by Piastri (5.9s), Russell (7.1s), Gasly (11.1s), Sainz (12.0s), Alonso (14.4s), Zhou (18.7s), Magnussen (23.5s), and Albon (29.6s) in tenth place.
On lap 52 Norris passes Tsunoda for 12th place.
On lap 53 Bottas passes Albon for tenth.
On lao 54 Norris passes Bottas for tenth.
Norris sets fast lap at 1m22.471s,
On lap 56 Norris sets fast lap at 1m22.384s.
On the final lap, Verstappen takes the win, followed by Leclerc and Piastri.
Russell is given a 5-second penalty for a Safety car penalty.