Max Verstappen’s performance at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix proved once again why he is the best driver in the world, as he took a dominant victory despite a series of challenges. Although he had already secured the Drivers’ Championship, Verstappen was far from complacent. After struggling in the Sprint, he made an impressive setup change, which enabled him to claim pole position, only to be handed a one-place grid penalty for blocking George Russell. This penalty did not slow him down, however, as Verstappen swiftly passed Russell at the start and maintained his lead throughout the race, securing his ninth win of the season.
Pierre Gasly, after a missed opportunity in Las Vegas, had a much-needed strong performance in Qatar. Despite a slow start and a difficult opening lap, Gasly used a safety car period to climb the ranks, ultimately finishing in sixth place. This result was crucial for Alpine’s hopes in the Constructors’ Championship. Fernando Alonso, whose recent races had been tough, turned things around in Qatar with a remarkable qualifying performance, securing eighth on the grid. He fought hard throughout the race and capitalized on others’ misfortunes to finish in seventh.
Zhou Guanyu, having a tough season, also found success in Qatar. After a poor start, he capitalized on safety car interventions and penalties to finish eighth, earning Sauber’s first points of 2024. However, it was a weekend to forget for Sergio Perez, who struggled throughout. Starting from the pit lane after a poor qualifying session, Perez was further hindered by a pit lane error and later retired due to a hydraulic failure. His struggles were mirrored by Red Bull’s other driver candidates, such as Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson, who also faced disappointing results.
McLaren, despite a promising Sprint, faced a challenging race. Lando Norris received a 10-second penalty for failing to slow under yellow flags, dropping him to 10th, while teammate Oscar Piastri finished third, but McLaren’s gap to Ferrari in the Constructors’ standings shrank to just 21 points. Meanwhile, the FIA’s poor stewardship throughout the weekend added controversy, with delays and mismanagement overshadowing the race, including the confusion surrounding the removal of debris and the handling of penalties, which sparked further criticism of the governing body.
