A formality for Lewis Hamilton! Leading from the first thrusts until final braking, the Briton from the Mercedes team won the first Formula 1 Grand Prix of Qatar on Sunday 21 November. With this 7th success of the season, Hamilton returns to eight points behind the leader of the world championship, the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 2nd in Doha. Fernando Alonso (Alpine) completes the podium, his first since April 2014.
The day had started badly for Max Verstappen. Second in qualifying on Saturday, behind Lewis Hamilton, the Dutchman received a penalty of five places for not having respected a double yellow flag (signaling a significant danger). Starting 7th, Verstappen climbed back to 4th from the first two corners. Four laps later, Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) and Fernando Alonso (Alpine) sidelined, he found himself behind Hamilton.
But without Hamilton’s error, or mechanical problem, it was impossible for Verstappen to catch up with his rival on the Losail track. The two men followed each other at a distance until the 57th and last lap. The best lap bonus point kept Verstappen eight steps ahead of his rival, whose total now stands at 342.5 points. Their duel in the Arabian Peninsula has only just begun with two last Grands Prix scheduled in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), on December 5, then in Abu Dhabi, the following week.
For the first time since April 2014 and the Chinese Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso regained a podium in Formula 1, the 98th of his career. The two-time world champion (in 2005 and 2006) took advantage of the misadventures of Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), forced to change his front wing when he was in 3rd place, and better tire management than Sergio Perez (Red Bull).
His teammate at Alpine, the French Esteban Ocon, took 5th place, between Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll (Aston Martin). The other Habs entered in Formula 1, Pierre Gasly, had to settle for 11th place. Starting 2nd on the starting line, he paid for a questionable management of pit stops.