Winner: Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen had a perfect redemption arc after receiving a one-place grid penalty that cost him pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix. However, the recently crowned world champion expressed his frustration masterfully, showcasing his skill as he regained the lead almost immediately after the lights went out. Verstappen then dominated the race, securing his second win in three races and his ninth victory of the season. Remarkably, this was his first dry-weather Grand Prix triumph since Spain in June.

Loser: Mercedes

After showing strong pace in Las Vegas, Mercedes struggled to maintain that momentum in Qatar. George Russell, who stood out during the Sprint and even claimed pole for the race, finished fourth. Lewis Hamilton’s race went from bad to worse with a puncture and a pit-lane speed penalty, leaving him in P12. Hamilton now trails Russell by 24 points.

Winner: Zhou Guanyu

Zhou Guanyu made the most of one of his final F1 appearances with a superb drive to eighth place, equaling his career-best result from Canada 2022. This result secured his first points of the year and ensured that Kick Sauber avoided their second pointless season in history. Zhou’s strong pace and strategy execution were highlights of the weekend.

Loser: Sergio Pérez

Sergio Pérez’s disappointing performance continued, with his fourth retirement of the season leaving him 277 points behind his teammate. Pérez managed to climb to fifth in Qatar, but a spin ended his chances for points before he retired. With only nine points in the last seven races, Pérez’s season continues to go poorly.

Winner: Ferrari

Ferrari exceeded expectations in Qatar, outscoring rivals McLaren and narrowing the gap to 21 points in the Constructors’ Championship. Charles Leclerc delivered a thrilling drive to finish second. He now trails Lando Norris by just eight points in the driver standings. Carlos Sainz, despite a puncture setback, recovered to finish sixth, marking his best result at the Qatar Grand Prix.

Loser: McLaren

McLaren had high hopes in Qatar, with the track seemingly perfect for their car. However, the weekend fell apart on Sunday. Lando Norris, penalized with a 10-second stop-and-go penalty, recovered from last to 10th and took another point for the fastest lap. Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri claimed third for his eighth podium of the season but couldn’t overtake Leclerc for second. Despite these efforts, McLaren fell short of their weekend expectations.

Winner: Pierre Gasly

Pierre Gasly continued his impressive form, rising from 11th on the grid to finish fifth. This marked his second top-five finish in three races, highlighting Alpine’s turnaround. Gasly’s strong finish helped the team reclaim P6 in the Constructors’ Championship, putting them five points ahead of Haas.

Loser: Esteban Ocon

Esteban Ocon’s struggles continued in Qatar, with the Frenchman suspecting a technical issue with his Alpine costing him around half a second per lap against his teammate. Unfortunately, his fortunes didn’t improve. Ocon qualified last and was out by the end of the first lap after being involved in a Turn 1 incident. Adding insult to injury, Alpine announced this would be Ocon’s final race with the team. Reserve driver Jack Doohan will debut in Abu Dhabi.

Winner: Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso delivered a thrilling performance to finish seventh, securing points for the first time in five races and ending Aston Martin’s bad luck. Starting eighth, Alonso battled hard to keep Aston Martin in the midfield fight, providing the team with much-needed morale in an otherwise lackluster season.

Loser: Williams

Williams’ woes persisted in Qatar, as Franco Colapinto retired early following a Turn 1 collision involving Esteban Ocon and Nico Hulkenberg. It marked Colapinto’s second DNF in three races and Williams’ seventh crash in the last four Grand Prix weekends. Alex Albon, running in the top 10 late in the race, suffered tyre degradation and finished 15th after a time penalty for a clash with Kevin Magnussen.