An as-it-happened account of what happened in the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix.
The 2021 Formula 1 season is nearing its conclusion as it races at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar.
A last-minute addition to the F1 calendar, Qatar forms the final part of this latest triple-header with the battle for supremacy finely poised.
Lewis Hamilton’s spectacular weekend in Sao Paulo saw him cut Max Verstappen’s lead to 14 points with three rounds to go.
Mercedes extended its lead over Red Bull to 11 points, while Ferrari now sits 31.5 points clear of McLaren in the race for third.
The Qatar circuit consists of mostly medium speed corners with a long start-finish straight.
Overtaking will be difficult but qualifying will be a real spectacle.
The remainder of the 2021 F1 calendar:
Qatar Grand Prix - November 21
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - December 5
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - December 12
That's that - keep across crash.net for the latest paddock reaction from Losail.
Lewis Hamilton wins the 2021 #QatarGP ahead of Max Verstappen and Fernando AlonsoFull race results from the Losail International Circuit: https://t.co/VhWeun5gjL #F1— CRASH.NET/F1 (@CRASH_NET_F1) November 21, 2021
Lewis Hamilton wins the 2021 #QatarGP ahead of Max Verstappen and Fernando AlonsoFull race results from the Losail International Circuit: https://t.co/VhWeun5gjL #F1
Alonso finishes on the podium! He beats Perez for the final spot on the rostrum.
Verstappen finishes second with the fastest lap of the race.
Lewis Hamilton wins the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix!
Final lap... VSC has now ended.
VSC deployed - Latifi's car is being recovered.
5 laps to go...
It's punctures galore - Russell with one, now one with Latifi.
Order on Lap 51: Hamilton, Verstappen, Alonso, Perez, Ocon, Stroll, Sainz, Leclerc, Vettel and Gasly.
McLaren pits Norris for fresh rubber - perhaps he was about to get a puncture.
LAP 48/57Ocon does fight hard, but in the end he can't hold Perez off - and the Red Bull man moves up to P5Tense final few laps coming up in the battle for P3 and a podium place! #QatarGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/9v5d7DXezN— Formula 1 (@F1) November 21, 2021
LAP 48/57Ocon does fight hard, but in the end he can't hold Perez off - and the Red Bull man moves up to P5Tense final few laps coming up in the battle for P3 and a podium place! #QatarGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/9v5d7DXezN
Order on Lap 49: Hamilton, Verstappen, Alonso, Norris, Perez, Ocon, Stroll, Sainz, Leclerc and Vettel.
Perez gets past Ocon into Turn 1 for fifth - next up is Norris for the Mexican.
Perez moves up to sixth - he has a 17s gap to make up on Alonso for third.
Alonso tells his engineer: 'Tell Esteban to defend like a lion'.
LAP 43/57Hamilton (P1) and Verstappen (P2) both take their second pit stops Hamilton looking comfortable, with the gap between the two still around 8.5s after their stopsBut don't take your eyes off this one... #QatarGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/eqwjErqKzC— Formula 1 (@F1) November 21, 2021
LAP 43/57Hamilton (P1) and Verstappen (P2) both take their second pit stops Hamilton looking comfortable, with the gap between the two still around 8.5s after their stopsBut don't take your eyes off this one... #QatarGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/eqwjErqKzC
Lap 42 // PER pits again. Fernando back up to the podium positions, P3. #QatarGP— Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) November 21, 2021
Lap 42 // PER pits again. Fernando back up to the podium positions, P3. #QatarGP
Red Bull pulls Perez in for some mediums as well from third - he rejoins in seventh.
Red Bull brings Verstappen in for new mediums from second. Too risky to do a one-stop after Bottas' failure.
Order on Lap 40: Hamilton, Verstappen, Perez, Alonso, Norris, Ocon, Stroll, Sainz, Leclerc and Vettel.
Verstappen reports vibrations...
LAP 37/57Fernando Alonso's view of that Valtteri Bottas puncture... #QatarGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/WJPrW63l4Q— Formula 1 (@F1) November 21, 2021
LAP 37/57Fernando Alonso's view of that Valtteri Bottas puncture... #QatarGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/WJPrW63l4Q
LAP 35/57Bottas does manage to nurse his Mercedes back to the pit lane for repairs But he emerges in P14 - more than a lap behind the leadersAdvantage Red Bull with just under 20 laps to go#QatarGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/5boH6Ol1jC— Formula 1 (@F1) November 21, 2021
LAP 35/57Bottas does manage to nurse his Mercedes back to the pit lane for repairs But he emerges in P14 - more than a lap behind the leadersAdvantage Red Bull with just under 20 laps to go#QatarGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/5boH6Ol1jC
Bottas rejoins in 14th on the hards...
How the 2021 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix unfolded
An as-it-happened account of what happened in the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix.
The 2021 Formula 1 season is nearing its conclusion as it races at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar.
A last-minute addition to the F1 calendar, Qatar forms the final part of this latest triple-header with the battle for supremacy finely poised.
Lewis Hamilton’s spectacular weekend in Sao Paulo saw him cut Max Verstappen’s lead to 14 points with three rounds to go.
Mercedes extended its lead over Red Bull to 11 points, while Ferrari now sits 31.5 points clear of McLaren in the race for third.
The Qatar circuit consists of mostly medium speed corners with a long start-finish straight.
Overtaking will be difficult but qualifying will be a real spectacle.
The remainder of the 2021 F1 calendar:
Qatar Grand Prix - November 21
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - December 5
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - December 12
That's that - keep across crash.net for the latest paddock reaction from Losail.
Alonso finishes on the podium! He beats Perez for the final spot on the rostrum.
Verstappen finishes second with the fastest lap of the race.
Lewis Hamilton wins the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix!
Final lap... VSC has now ended.
VSC deployed - Latifi's car is being recovered.
5 laps to go...
It's punctures galore - Russell with one, now one with Latifi.
Order on Lap 51: Hamilton, Verstappen, Alonso, Perez, Ocon, Stroll, Sainz, Leclerc, Vettel and Gasly.
McLaren pits Norris for fresh rubber - perhaps he was about to get a puncture.
Order on Lap 49: Hamilton, Verstappen, Alonso, Norris, Perez, Ocon, Stroll, Sainz, Leclerc and Vettel.
Perez gets past Ocon into Turn 1 for fifth - next up is Norris for the Mexican.
Perez moves up to sixth - he has a 17s gap to make up on Alonso for third.
Alonso tells his engineer: 'Tell Esteban to defend like a lion'.
Red Bull pulls Perez in for some mediums as well from third - he rejoins in seventh.
Red Bull brings Verstappen in for new mediums from second. Too risky to do a one-stop after Bottas' failure.
Order on Lap 40: Hamilton, Verstappen, Perez, Alonso, Norris, Ocon, Stroll, Sainz, Leclerc and Vettel.
Verstappen reports vibrations...
Bottas rejoins in 14th on the hards...