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The championship contender capitalized on a tactical decision from the British team that contradicted decisions made by every other team during an early race safety car period

It was a costly decision that sacrificed track position to the Red Bull driver in the closing laps and retrospectively cost the race win for the Australian driver

Grand Prix Results and Championship Implications

The race winner won to take his 7th victory of the season, matching Norris and Piastri, while the Australian was runner-up and the Briton in fourth behind the Williams of Carlos Sainz

The McLaren driver earned an additional points by overtaking Kimi Antonelli's Silver Arrow on the second-to-last lap

The championship leader has been maintained a 12-point advantage over his rival, who moved ahead of Piastri by four points heading to the final race on December 5-7

To win the championship, Norris must finish at least third at Abu Dhabi if his rival takes victory next Sunday

Key Moments of the Thrilling Race

• The team's choice not to stop when a safety car was called on the seventh lap for a crash between Alpine's Gasly and Sauber's Hulkenberg
• A decision led by Piastri to advance his final stop in a desperate attempt to challenge the leader proved unsuccessful
• A surprise second podium for Sainz gifted by the team's strategy call

The Way McLaren Missed Out in The Race

The fateful moment for the team was when Gasly and Hulkenberg came together as the German tried to overtake the Frenchman around the outside of Turn One on lap seven

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

The critical part of the timing was that it left exactly 50 laps left in the race

With the tire manufacturer imposing a 25-lap safety limit on the tyres, that signified anyone who pitted at that moment was locked into a rigid strategy with a second stop on lap 32

Competitor Reactions and After the Event Statements

Speechless

Piastri commented in his after-race interview: Clearly we didn't get it right tonight I drove the strongest performance I was capable of, 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 incredible race for us Our team executed the right call to box It was smart And extremely pleased to win here and stay in the fight to the end, remarkable

Ultimate Grand Prix Standings

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

Looking Ahead

The crucial title decider at the Yas Marina Circuit This venue does not create the most exciting racing, but yet again this evening event features an contest which promises to be every bit as thrilling as Vettel's first title in 2010, or Verstappen's much-debated first title in 2021