Max Verstappen followed up securing his fourth Formula One world title by winning a chaotic Qatar Grand Prix in which Lando Norris was handed a penalty.

Verstappen and Norris were locked in a tense lead battle until a 10-second stop-go penalty for the Briton put him at the back, before he recovered to finish 10th.

After being stripped of pole position for impeding George Russell in qualifying, the Dutchman surged past the Mercedes driver on the first lap and remained there for the duration.

Verstappen was made to work for his win, however, with the safety car appearing on the first lap after Franco Colapinto and Esteban Ocon were casualties in an incident with Nico Hulkenberg.

This proved to be the first of three safety car outings during the 57-lap encounter. While the second restart saw Norris run close to Verstappen, the world champion held on for the win.

Max taking his 9th win of the season in style #F1 || #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/PT3HzC3wFB
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) December 1, 2024

Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri completed the podium, meaning the battle for the constructors' championship will go down to the final race in Abu Dhabi, with McLaren holding a 21-point lead over Ferrari.

The pivotal moment came during the third safety car period, with Leclerc jumping ahead of Piastri in the pits to take what became second place with Norris' penalty.

Leclerc is now just nine points behind the Briton in the drivers' standings.

Pole-sitter Russell was fourth, ahead of Pierre Gasly who shone again for Alpine, while Carlos Sainz ended up in sixth.

Fernando Alonso found himself in the points for the first time since the Singapore Grand Prix, as Zhou Guanyu finished eighth to score Sauber's first points of the season, with Kevin Magnussen and Norris rounding off the top 10.

It was a day to forget, however, for Lewis Hamilton in his penultimate race for Mercedes, as he finished down in 12th after suffering a puncture due to debris on the track.

IT’S POINTS IN QATAR!!!!! #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/OT5QQ6hubY
— Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber (@stakef1team_ks) December 1, 2024

Data Debrief: Dutch delight

Verstappen's triumph saw him become only the third driver in F1 history to break the 3,000 points barrier (now 3,014.50), joining Hamilton (4,847.50) and Sebastian Vettel (3,098) in achieving that landmark total.

Red Bull also surpassed the 7,000 barrier for laps led in their F1 history, becoming the fifth team to reach that figure in the competition after Ferrari (16,002), McLaren (11,034), Williams (7584) and Mercedes (7,333).

Top 10

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

4. George Russell (Mercedes)

5. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

6. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)

7. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

8. Zhou Guanyu (Sauber)

9. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)

10. Lando Norris (McLaren)

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Drivers'

1. Max Verstappen - 429

2. Lando Norris - 349

3. Charles Leclerc - 341

Constructors'

1. McLaren - 640

2. Ferrari - 619

3. Red Bull - 581