Verstappen compliments Red Bull for 'smart' Qatar GP coup on McLaren

19:07, 30 Nov

Updated: 19:12, 30 Nov

byNorberto Mujica

Max Verstappen has won the Qatar Grand Prix, closing the gap to the championship leader Lando Norris down to 12 points.

The Dutchman stopped on lap 7 of the race, capitalising on the Safety Car triggered by Pierre Gasly and Nico Hulkenberg's incident, which McLaren failed to do.

"This was an incredible race for us,2 Verstappen said after the race. The Dutch driver then complimented his team on the decision to pit him under the Safety Car. "We made the right call as a team to box under that Safety Car. That was smart."

Max Verstappen after winning the Qatar Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures

"I'm super happy to win here. We stay in the fight until the end. Incredible!," he added.

Acknowledging the difficulties he and Red Bull faced throughout the weekend, Verstappen highlighted the team's resurgence to end up winning the race ahead of the quicker McLaren cars.

"It was a very strong race on a weekend that was a bit tough but we won the race and that was important."

Commenting on McLaren's decision to stay out, he said: "I was like that's an interesting move!" Nevertheless, the Dutchman added that even after the strategic superiority achieved after the first pit stop sequence, the job had not yet been done.

"I knew we had a gap but you still need to keep the tyres alive. The tyre wear is high around here and luckily it all worked out."

Regarding the title battle which will be decided in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen said "It's all possible now! We will see. I don't worry about it too much."

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