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Verstappen benefited from a tactical decision from the British team that contradicted decisions made by all other squads during an initial safety car period

This proved to be a costly decision that sacrificed track position to Verstappen in the final stages and retrospectively threw away the race win for the Australian driver

Grand Prix Outcome and Championship Consequences

Verstappen triumphed to take his 7th victory of the season, matching Norris and Piastri, while the Piastri was runner-up and the Briton fourth behind the Williams car of Carlos Sainz

Norris earned an extra two points by passing Kimi Antonelli's Silver Arrow on the second-to-last lap

The championship leader has been maintained a twelve point advantage over his rival, who overtook Piastri by four points heading to the final race on 5-7 December

To win the championship, the British driver must secure a podium position at Yas Marina if Verstappen takes victory next Sunday

Key Moments of the Thrilling Grand Prix

• The team's choice not to stop when a yellow flag was deployed on lap seven for a collision between the French team's Gasly and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg
• A strategy initiated by Piastri to advance his final stop in a desperate attempt to challenge Verstappen proved unsuccessful
• A surprise second podium for the Williams driver gifted by the team's strategy call

How The British Team Missed Out in The Race

The critical point for the team was when the two drivers collided as the German tried to overtake the Frenchman around the exterior of the first corner on lap seven

Hulkenberg's car was left damaged beside the track This triggered the safety car

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

With the tire manufacturer enforcing a twenty-five lap safety limit on the tyres, that signified anyone who pitted at that moment was locked into a fixed plan with a second stop on lap 32

Competitor Reactions and Post-Race Statements

No words

Piastri commented in his post-race interview: Obviously we didn't get it right tonight My driving was the best race I was capable of, as quick as I possible, but there was nothing left out there Attempted my best but didn't get it done

Verstappen said: This was an incredible race for us We made the correct decision to pit It was intelligent And extremely pleased to win here and remain competitive to the end, remarkable

Ultimate Grand Prix Positions

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

What's Next?

The all-important title decider at the Yas Marina The circuit itself does not create the most thrilling competition, but yet again this evening event features an contest which promises to be every bit as thrilling as Vettel's maiden championship in 2010, or the Dutch driver's highly controversial initial championship in twenty-twenty-one