Max Verstappen wrapped up his third F1 world title in the Qatar sprint on Saturday and starts today’s grand prix on pole looking to celebrate in style.
But the race has thrown F1 teams a curveball with a mandated maximum of 18-lap stints – effectively pushing all drivers into a three-stop strategy – due to safety concerns on tyre trouble.
In conjunction with Pirelli, the FIA made the emergency measures official on Sunday afternoon before the race, following Saturday’s track limit changes at Turn 12 and 13 to deter drivers from going over the new and harsher kerbs.
With that, we'll call time on this live text coverage of the Qatar GP. We have a short one-week break before a triple-header of the United States, Mexico and Brazil to look forward to. Until then have a lovely rest of your Sunday! Go well!
The heat has even got to the fizz! The drivers go for the customary spraying of the fizzy stuff - rose water in Qatar remember - but nothing happens. They've been left out too long. Oh dear.
Verstappen, Piastri and Norris summon up enough energy to make the podium presentation and the familiar pairing of the Dutch and the Austrian national anthems.
The cooldown room with the podium trio is a scene. Piastri is flat on his back on the floor, Verstappen is slumped against the wall and Norris hunched on the chair. Reviewing the start, Piastri says "thank you Mercedes" after hearing about the start crash.
Verstappen on his Qatar GP win: "I think what made the race was my first stint, after that I could manage my pace and keep the tyres in a good window. But the McLarens were quick again today."
Second place Piastri on being told he is driver of the day: "I thought you were going to say I got given a five-second penalty for track limits! You scared the crap out of me!"
Norris on his third place: "A mega race from start to finish. I learnt from my mistake yesterday going wide at the first corner, I told you I'd go tight, and I did and it worked out. We probably had the best pace out there."
Verstappen jumps into the arms of his Red Bull squad to celebrate yet another win. He's joined by the McLaren pair but they all look shattered. That was a hot and hard race!
Piastri is given the driver of the day award along with his sprint win and second place in the grand prix. Not a bad Qatar GP weekend for the F1 rookie!
Verstappen puts in a new fastest lap of 1m24.319s on the penultimate lap to cap another fine performance. He leads by 5.2s, while Piastri has Norris within a second behind him.
Verstappen is creeping away again with his lead up to 4s, while Russell's pace is nowhere on the softs and he could be under pressure from Leclerc at the end.
Battling for the final points paying position, Gasly goes around the outside of Stroll at Turn 1 but he runs off the track when completing the move. It's already under investigation and the position will likely have to be conceded back.
Into the final five laps, Verstappen leads by 3.8s from Piastri with Norris a further 1.5s back. Russell has 18s to find to catch Norris, which seems a massive ask.
Leader Verstappen pits a lap later, ditching hards for mediums, but it is a slow 4.1s stop. No matter, he comes out in the lead again with Piastri only just able to see him ahead on the main straight.
With six laps to go Russell pits for the fourth time in the race, swaps his hards for softs, and comes out in fourth. He'll chase the McLarens to the end.
Verstappen has this race in the bag, if anyone was worried. He leads by 25s from Russell and 34s from Piastri so has plenty of time in hand to pit for the last time and return to the lead.
Norris makes his point on the track by putting in a new fastest lap of the race with a 1m24.842s. McLaren is worried about Russell pitting again, switching to softs, and attacking them both late on.
Norris is told over team radio to hold position behind Piastri with 10 laps to go. He's trying to convince McLaren to let them race. They are split by 2s.
Norris, switching to fresh hards, exits the pitlane alongside Piastri but has to concede with less momentum into Turn 1. Piastri is third, with Russell due to pit again ahead of him, so the fight for second goes to the finish.
