Impeccable Verstappen praised by foreign media: 'He's the real judge'

Max Verstappen can count on high praise from the international media after his flawless win in Qatar. It initially seemed he would face a difficult Formula 1 weekend but Red Bull and the Dutchman managed to turn it around. The media are less enthusiastic about Lando Norris' costly mistake and the actions of the FIA.

"A disgruntled Verstappen did not need the rain to shine this time," said La Gazzetta dello Sport, which rates the Dutchman with a 9.5 for his performance. The Italian newspaper is less enthusiastic about Lando Norris. "Norris makes another mistake at a crucial moment, putting the constructors' title at risk." The new race director, Rui Marques, is rated "disastrous".

Italy's Corriere della Sera notes the interference of "the real sheriff", Mohammed Ben Sulayem, as well as the exceptionally strict intervention of the stewards during the F1 race at the Losail International Circuit. "Even if the real "judge" on the track was Verstappen: not only did he win (ninth seasonal success, as a phenomenon he revolutionised the car after a horrible Sprint race) but he brought the most important episode, Norris's infringement, to the attention of the stewards. Go trust your friends." The newspaper called Norris' penalty 'naive'.

"Max Verstappen without doubt delivered a fine drive for victory at the Qatar Grand Prix but the reverberations from this dead rubber in the desert will resound long after the anthems faded into the night. Controversy and potential danger marked the meeting at the Lusail circuit, bringing recent decisions made by Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, sharply into scrutiny on the same day its president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, had demanded drivers mind their own business when questioning his governance," said Britain's The Guardian.

Mundo Deportivo points especially to Norris' mistake, which proved very costly. "McLaren had a great opportunity on Sunday to increase its lead over Ferrari and go into the Abu Dhabi GP, the final race of the year, with the constructors' title in its pocket. But a mistake by Norris changed everything," wrote the Spanish medium.