Qatar Grand Prix 2024 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Max Verstappen secured his ninth victory of the season at the Qatar Grand Prix, converting pole position into a commanding win to close out the penultimate round of the championship. The newly-crowned four-time World Champion demonstrated that even without the season's fastest car, his racecraft and consistency remained unmatched.

Starting from pole at the floodlit Losail International Circuit, Verstappen controlled the race from lights to flag, managing tire degradation expertly in the physically demanding conditions. Charles Leclerc finished second for Ferrari, continuing his strong end to the season and keeping Ferrari's constructors' championship hopes alive heading into Abu Dhabi. Oscar Piastri completed the podium in third for McLaren, while teammate Lando Norris set the fastest lap despite a challenging race.

The result set up a winner-takes-all finale in Abu Dhabi between McLaren and Ferrari for the Constructors' Championship, with McLaren holding a 21-point advantage. Verstappen's victory, his first since Brazil three weeks earlier, reminded everyone why he was champion despite Red Bull's mid-season slump. The Qatar Grand Prix marked the end of the Middle East swing and set the stage for the season's dramatic conclusion at Yas Marina, where McLaren would attempt to end their 26-year title drought.