Lewis Hamilton wins the maiden Qatar Grand Prix to reduce F1 title-race deficit to eight points on rival Max Verstappen

Lewis Hamilton has narrowed Max Verstappen’s title lead to just eight points with a dominate win at the Qatar Grand Prix that also saw Fernando Alonso gain his first podium since 2014. 

After a clinical start that saw him gap Pierre Gasly and Fernando Alonso quickly, Hamilton was able to control the pace at the front of the field as he led every lap to a race win.

Max Verstappen, who started in seventh after a five-place penalty for a yellow flag infringement in qualifying, charged through the field early on to regain second place just a couple of laps in. But the pace in the Red Bull was not there to catch up to Hamilton.

Fernando Alonso back on the podium since 2014

Meanwhile, there was joy down at Alpine as Alonso returned to the podium for the first time since the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix, with the Spaniard having executed an aggressive drive to survive late-race pressure from Red Bull’s Sergio Perez to take third.

Alonso also survived a late tyre scare as the three drivers also on a one-pit stop strategy, Valtteri Bottas, George Russell and Nicholas Latifi, suffered tyre failures that derailed their races. But a Virtual Safety Car for Latifi’s puncture saved two laps of stress on Alonso’s tyres which allowed him to bring home the podium.

Sergio Perez finishes fourth after crashing out of Q2

Perez will be happy with his fourth-place finish after a poor qualifying saw him start in 11th. Esteban Ocon increased Alpine’s lead over AlphaTauri in the Constructors’ championship by finishing fifth, with no AlphaTauri drivers finishing in the points.

The Ferrari duo of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc finished in seventh and eighth respectively. Lando Norris took ninth in another disappointing weekend for McLaren.

Sebastian Vettel took the final points paying position for Aston Martin, just ahead of Gasly who will be disappointed with his result after starting second on the grid.

Bad day for Valtteri Bottas

It was a race to forget for Bottas with the previously mentioned tyre failure, but he also struggled before that. He suffered a grid drop for a similar penalty to Verstappen, but then he fell to 11that the start. Bottas did manage to save his car after the puncture, but there was clearly lasting damage and Mercedes later retired the car.

There are only two races left in this year’s Formula 1 season, with the next stop being Saudi Arabia on December 3-5.

By Charlie Parker