Qatar GP takeaways: Ferrari still alive, FIA needs fixing

We offer our takeaways following each race weekend this year and continue the 2024 schedule with the Qatar Grand Prix.

Moments that decided the race 🏆

Race control issues have never been more apparent

The FIA is no stranger to criticism or heavy scrutiny, but the Qatar GP left the organization nowhere to hide as gigantic problems with Formula 1's race control took center stage.

It's not that there was a shortage of on-track highlights to discuss, either. Max Verstappen and Red Bull went from battling a Haas in the sprint race to winning the Grand Prix; Ferrari kept the constructors' fight alive versus McLaren; and Pierre Gasly finished fifth to power Alpine up the standings. Yet all of these topics require mentioning a decision made by race control.

Verstappen's pole was wiped off the board with a rare one-place grid penalty due to driving unnecessarily slow on a slow lap in qualifying. That impeded George Russell, who was also on a slow lap. Stewards wrote that it would've been a three-place penalty had it been a push lap, but they hedged to a one-place infraction since it wasn't.

Verstappen ultimately overtook Russell at Turn 1 and went on to win. But others behind him and in the steward room had a much busier day Sunday, starting with Lando Norris.

Norris was trading fastest laps with Verstappen in the first stint but had his push for the race win end disastrously after he failed to lift for double yellows on the main straight on Lap 30 as a displaced mirror laid on the track. He was eventually served a 10-second stop-go penalty, dropping him to the back of the pack and leaving him 10th at the checkered flag.

Norris was caught red-handed, but race control's treatment of the incident didn't help. There was confusion as the yellow flags came and went. Why wasn't a virtual safety car called for the mirror until Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz suffered punctures? While it's undeniable that Norris didn't lift and a 10-second stop-go penalty followed precedent, unlike Verstappen's penalty, it still leaves the FIA with one major question: Why are nuance and mitigating factors relevant in some scenarios and not others?

"To me, it looks like, somewhere, there must be a book with a lot of dust on the cover that was taken out: 'Let me see what it says, let me apply this,'" McLaren team boss Andrea Stella said after the race.

Why the race director allowed the mirror to lie on the track for a long period of time is another major concern. Calls for virtual safety cars or full safety cars continue to be delayed until it's completely too late, just as in Brazil. Although both races had different race directors, the same problem still emerged.

Qatar was the second F1 race weekend for new race director Rui Marques. He also had to handle duties as the race director for F2 and F1 Academy. Marques was promoted after former race director Niels Wittich stepped down following Brazil, though he denied resigning at his own volition.

Wittich is the latest in what seems like a never-ending string of dismissals coming from the FIA. The organization's president hasn't helped matters, telling drivers it was none of their business what decisions the FIA make before Sunday's race.

Despite all the changes within the FIA, and especially those within race control, it doesn't seem like the officiating and control are getting any better. Fans don't appreciate referees or stewards taking away from the on-field or, in this case, on-track action. But Qatar put a magnifying glass on what many already feared: the spectacle of Formula 1 and all its drivers have to offer is too often taking a backseat to race control, puzzling steward decisions, and leadership from a governing body that would rather have itself be front and center.

Ferrari still alive in title fight thanks to Norris penalty

One consequence of Norris' 10-second stop-go penalty was it effectively kept Ferrari's pulse alive in the constructors' championship.

Ferrari has refused to lay over in a season that feels like McLaren has had the upper hand for the majority of the second half. The gap between the two legendary constructors sits at 21 points, with a maximum of 44 points available in Abu Dhabi. The Scuderia may still be long shots, but they shouldn't be counted out.

After all, Ferrari has always risen this season from every tribute and meme dedicated to its so-called demise. The aftermath of Canada to Silverstone left Ferrari and Charles Leclerc looking lost and without direction. Yet Leclerc only stands eight points away from Norris for second in the drivers' standings.

Whether or not Ferrari pulls it off next week in Abu Dhabi, this isn't your dad's or grandfather's Scuderia. This isn't a team that raises expectations sky-high only to get blinded by the lights and their own hype. Fred Vasseur's Ferrari is chippy and gritty, and Qatar once again proved it.

The high-speed corners that fill the Qatar circuit weren't expected to favor the SF-24, while Sainz was also on the receiving end of a puncture during the race. Yet Ferrari rode the highs and lows better than anyone, leaving Qatar with more points scored (35) than any other constructor. Plus, Leclerc recorded a surprising podium.

"I would have signed straight away if I had a paper that told me that we will finish second after a weekend like this, especially on a track like this," Leclerc said post-race.

Ferrari will need a lot to go its way in Abu Dhabi to end a 16-year drought and claim its first constructors' title since 2008. But momentum has swung in its favor after surviving the Qatar circuit and watching another morale-crushing weekend strike longtime rival McLaren.

Driver of the Day 🙌

Zhou Guanyu: It might have taken 23 races, but Kick Sauber finally got their first points. Starting P12, Guanyu slowly picked off drivers and held his own amongst the carnage to finish P8. It ties his best-ever finish, and the Chinese driver earned more points in the last four races than Sergio Perez. They're also Guanyu's first points since last season’s iteration of the Qatar Grand Prix. In his second-to-last race in F1 (for now), Guanyu's personal victory feels bittersweet.

They said what? 🗣️

Verstappen on Russell: "I was quite surprised when sitting there in the stewards room, what was all going on. Honestly, very disappointing. Because I think we're all here, we respect each other a lot. Of course, I've been in that meeting room many times in my life, in my career, with, you know, people that I've raced and I've never seen someone trying to screw someone over that hard. For me, I lost all respect."

Norris on receiving a 10-second penalty: "Honestly, I don't know what I did wrong at the minute. Apparently, I didn't slow under the yellow (flag). I'm not an idiot, if I knew there was a yellow (flag), I would have slowed down. I don't know if I missed it or just been dumb. The rule is, if you don't slow down on a yellow, it's a penalty, so it's a fair penalty."

Leclerc on chasing McLaren for constructors' title: "I think, coming into the weekend, we never really said it within the team, but I think everybody expected McLaren would score more points than us, so it's a very good surprise. As much as it's going to be a stretch to win constructors, we'll give it all until the very last lap."

Horner on Red Bull's third-place finish: "We're out of the constructors, and that's very frustrating 'cause that's where the financial revenue is distributed, but it does give us more wind tunnel time if you look at a glass-half-full perspective."

Zhou on scoring first points of season: "Happy is probably not the word; relief is the word. It's been a long season."

What's next?

Formula 1 travels to the United Arab Emirates for the final race of the 2024 season with the Abu Dhabi GP going Sunday, Dec. 8 at 8 a.m. ET.

Verstappen has won the last four races at the circuit.

McLaren leads Ferrari by 21 points in the constructors' championship. It's looking for its first title since 1998. Neither of McLaren's drivers was alive when the team won its last championship.

Verstappen's already wrapped up the drivers' championship, but Norris leads Leclerc by only eight points for second place. Norris has never finished higher than sixth, while Leclerc would secure a second second-place finish in three years if he's able to surpass Norris.

The race will also be the final time Hamilton drives a Mercedes as he's set to join Ferrari next season.