Did Red Bull have more pace despite McLaren's Qatar error?

Max Verstappen clinched an unexpected victory in Qatar, capitalizing on McLaren's strategy missteps during a peculiar Grand Prix. Pirelli's 25-lap tyre limitation and a Lap 7 Safety Car, triggered by Nico Hulkenberg's incident, dramatically reshaped the race. Polesitter Oscar Piastri, who had dominated the Sprint and was leading comfortably, saw his chances evaporate as McLaren's reaction to the Safety Car backfired. Lando Norris also found himself disadvantaged. Verstappen seized the opportunity, securing a win that initially seemed out of reach.