F1 Results Today: Title battle takes MASSIVE penalty twist in chaotic Qatar Grand Prix

Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix in reasonable comfort on Sunday night in Lusail, but the real drama came further down the standings in a race with three safety car periods.

Lando Norris had been the man on the four-time world champion's tail, but a massive penalty for failing to slow under yellow flag conditions dropped the McLaren star right to the back of the pack with a dozen laps to go.

F1 HEADLINES: Verstappen penalty verdict announced as Red Bull star ruled OUT of race

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Those yellow flag conditions were the result of a bizarre decision by the FIA to refrain from putting a safety car out with debris on the track, allowing cars to race past a prone wing-mirror for laps until Valtteri Bottas drove over it and smashed it to pieces – starting a chain reaction of punctures as drivers hit the remains.

Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz both punctured and had to drive a full lap with deflated front-left tyres, dropping them some way down the standings, although the safety car brought out far too late in reaction to the punctures mitigated the damage for them somewhat.

Norris roared through the backmarkers after his penalties, with every point potentially crucial for the constructors' championship fight, one point for tenth place plus one for setting the fastest lap of the race.

READ MORE: FIA announce Verstappen DEMOTION in SHOCK Qatar Grand Prix twist

2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Final classification

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull]
2. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - +6.031s
3. Oscar Piastri [McLaren] - +6.819s
4. George Russell [Mercedes] - +14.104s (includes 5-second penalty)
5. Pierre Gasly [Alpine] - +16.782s
6. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - +17.476s
7. Fernando Alonso [Aston Martin] - +19.867s
8. Zhou Guanyu [Kick Sauber] - +25.360s
9. Kevin Magnussen [Haas] - +32.177s
10. Lando Norris [McLaren] - +35.762s
11. Valtteri Bottas [Kick Sauber] - +50.243s
12. Lewis Hamilton [Mercedes] - +56.122s
13. Yuki Tsunoda [VCARB] - +1:01.100s
14. Liam Lawson [VCARB] - +1:02.656s
15. Alex Albon [Williams] - +1 lap (includes 10-second penalty)
16. Nico Hulkenberg [Haas] - DNF
17. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - DNF
18. Lance Stroll [Aston Martin] - DNF
19. Franco Colapinto [Williams] - DNF
20. Esteban Ocon [Alpine] - DNF

Fastest Lap: Lando Norris [McLaren]

READ MORE: FIA announce Hamilton and Verstappen penalty verdict at Qatar Grand Prix

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