Max Verstappen has recorded his first victory since having been crowed 2024 Formula 1 champion by prevailing in Sunday's Qatar Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver secured his fourth title in Las Vegas last week, the focus now switching to who will lift the Constructors' title.
Although Verstappen emerged victorious in the Middle East, it came in controversial fashion after McLaren's Lando Norris was handed a 10-second stop-and-go penalty for failing to slow under yellow flags.
Norris had been competing with Verstappen for the lead at the time, the British driver instead having to settle for 10th having dropped to the back of the pack.
Verstappen ultimately won by just over six seconds to Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri who finished second and third respectively.
From the first corner, Verstappen led the race after moving past pole-sitter George Russell, and while it was not one-way traffic, the Dutchman was subsequently able to keep Norris at bay in a hotly-disputed battle at the front.
A race-defining moment for Lando Norris 👀
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 1, 2024
A stop/go penalty for failing to slow under yellow flags ended his chance of victory today ❌#F1 #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/MieWsKU215
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Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly were next down the field, with Carlos Sainz Jr having to settle for sixth despite suffering a puncture from a wing mirror that was laying on the pit straight.
Fernando Alonso, Zhou Guanyu - collecting his first points of the season - Kevin Magnussen and Norris completed the top 10, all finishing within 36 seconds of Verstappen because of two safety cars.
Norris' stop-go penalty prevented McLaren from wrapping up the constructors title this week, instead taking a 21-point lead over Ferrari to Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, Norris now only sits eight points clear of Leclerc in the race for second, while Piastri, Sainz Jr, Russell and Lewis Hamilton will finish between fourth and seventh unless any of the four prevail in the final race on the calendar.
