Max Verstappen Wins Qatar GP as FIA Penalties and Rivalries Overshadow Race

Verstappen's victory marked his ninth of the season, but tensions with George Russell and controversial FIA decisions dominated the narrative.

• Max Verstappen secured his ninth victory of the 2024 F1 season in Qatar, maintaining his dominance despite losing pole position to a controversial grid penalty.
• The FIA's penalty decisions, including a rare one-place grid penalty for Verstappen and a severe stop-and-go penalty for McLaren's Lando Norris, faced widespread criticism for inconsistency and proportionality.
• The Constructors' Championship remains undecided, with McLaren leading Ferrari by just 21 points heading into the final race in Abu Dhabi after a chaotic Qatar GP weekend.
• Verstappen expressed a complete breakdown in his relationship with George Russell, accusing the Mercedes driver of manipulation following the qualifying penalty incident.
• The FIA's ongoing leadership turmoil, marked by staff exits and controversial stewarding, has raised calls for reform and consistency in race officiating.

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