Qatar GP: Hamilton cuts gap with Verstappen after Losail win

Bengaluru/Doha, November 21: Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton has closed the gap with title rival Max Verstappen following a dominant victory in the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix under lights at the 5.3kms-long Losail International Circuit,

On a day when Qatar marked the one-year countdown for the FIFA World Cup, Verstappen recovered from a grid drop that saw him start P7 to finish second, as Alpine's Fernando Alonso took the final podium position.

F1 meets @FIFAWorldCup 🏆

What a race we've had in Qatar - and now the countdown is on to the 2022 World Cup#QatarGP 🇶🇦 #F1 pic.twitter.com/o1lMl6gqjX
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 21, 2021

After a clinical start from pole position, Hamilton was able to control the pace at the front of the field with in indomitable lights-to-flag win, his second in a row after Brazil.

Qatar GP: Lewis Hamilton grabs stunning pole Qatar GP: Lewis Hamilton grabs stunning pole

But while Hamilton was impressive, so too was Verstappen, who was dropped from P2 to seventh on the grid for failing to respect double waved yellow flags in qualifying.

Verstappen shrugged off the disappointment, though, jumping to P4 at the start before quickly making his way up to second, before following Hamilton home to limit the damage to his title lead, which now stands at eight points as Verstappen claimed the fastest lap bonus point.

3⃣😍🇪🇸

An @F1 legend like @alo_oficial knows a good track when he sees one… 😉#QatarGP pic.twitter.com/udyPBBCpth
— نادي حلبة لوسيل الرياضي (@losailcircuit) November 21, 2021

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

Perez's fourth place was a decent recovery considering he'd started P11, while he finished ahead of the Alpine of Esteban Ocon, with Lance Stroll taking P6 for Aston Martin.

FINAL CLASSIFICATION: QATAR 🏁

Lewis wins again and closes the gap - and Fernando's back on the podium 👀

What an afternoon in Qatar!#QatarGP 🇶🇦 #F1 pic.twitter.com/yyQV1BYPmJ
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 21, 2021

The Ferrari pair of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were P7 and P8. Lando Norris took P9 after a late stop for the McLaren driver, as Sebastian Vettel took the final points-paying position for P10 - with Pierre Gasly failing to make a two-stop strategy work, dropping from P2 on the grid to P11, allowing Alpine to move clear of AlphaTauri in P5 in the standings.

Meanwhile, it was a day to forget for Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas, who took his own grid drop, dropping from P3 to P6, before falling to 11th at the start and then suffering mid-race tyre issues - as did Williams' George Russell and Nicholas Latifi - before Mercedes retired him.

Qatar's world high jump champion Mutaz Essa Barshim waved the chequered flag as the inaugural Qatar GP, part of the Middle East's Desert Swing, which also features races in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, came to a befitting close.

Hamilton already held the record for poles (30 of 34) and wins (29 of 34) at the most different circuits and added to both tallies at the first ever Qatar Grand Prix.

Alonso also enjoyed his Losail bow, collecting points at the 34th of 34 tracks in real style.

After a triple-header that saw the momentum swing back in Hamilton's favour, there are two weeks before the next race -- the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The all-new Jeddah Corniche Circuit promises to be the fastest street circuit in F1. Bring on Saudi Arabia!

RESULTS (TOP 10)

1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +25.743s

3. Fernando Alonso (Alpine) +59.457s

4. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) +62.306s

5. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) +80.570s

6. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) +81.274s

7. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +81.911s

8. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +83.126s

9. Lando Norris (McLaren) +1 LAP

10. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) +1 LAP

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS