The Qatar Grand Prix began with Russell and Verstappen fighting from the front row, and Verstappen quickly took control. Early contact involving Stroll and Albon added debris to an already difficult race, including a loose mirror on track. In the middle phase Norris was given a 10-second stop-and-go penalty for failing to slow under yellow flags, dropping him far down the order. Several safety-car periods compressed the field, but Verstappen defended the lead at each restart. Leclerc finished second, Piastri third and Russell fourth. Zhou Guanyu took eighth to give Sauber its first points of the season, while Verstappen added another win after securing the title.