Max Verstappen wins action-packed Qatar Grand Prix after Lando Norris penalized

LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Red Bull's Max Verstappen followed up his Formula 1 drivers' title with another win Sunday in an incident-packed Qatar Grand Prix as Lando Norris was hit with a penalty that ended his challenge for the race victory.

In a season of controversy over the rules and upheaval at the governing body, the stewards again played a crucial role. Norris had been chasing down Verstappen for the lead before his penalty. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said Norris hadn't slowed down but argued the penalty was disproportionately harsh.

"It’s definitely material that the FIA should consider very seriously if we want fairness to be part of going racing in Formula 1," Stella said. “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, I apply this.’ Seems a little too simplistic."

Verstappen, who'd been dropped from pole to second place after an incident with George Russell in qualifying, got his revenge on the Mercedes driver off the line in the race.

Verstappen got alongside Russell to take the inside line into the first corner, then fended off a challenge from Norris into the next turn.

The race was full of drama as the safety car came out three times and Norris was dropped to the back of the field with a penalty for failing to slow under yellow warning flags. Charles Leclerc finished second for Ferrari and Norris' McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri was third.

Verstappen, who secured his fourth consecutive title in Las Vegas last week, has won two of the last three races but hadn't won in dry conditions since June.

“It was a lot of fun out there,” Verstappen said. “Very happy. It’s been a while in the dry to be this competitive. Very proud of everyone within the team.”

At one stage, it looked like McLaren could seal its first constructors’ title since 1998 in Qatar as Norris and Piastri both eyed podium places.

After Norris' penalty, Ferrari cut McLaren’s lead from 30 points to 21 with Leclerc’s second place and a solid sixth for Carlos Sainz Jr. after a puncture seemed to have wrecked his race. The constructors' title will now be decided at the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi next week.

That's a boost to Ferrari's morale.

“We knew it was going to be a very difficult weekend compared to the McLaren but we even managed to take some points away from them, so the fight will be all the way to the last race in Abu Dhabi next week," Leclerc said.

“It’s going to be an exciting end to the year. Hopefully we can be strong but it’s going to take everything we’ve got to seal the deal," Piastri said.

Russell was fourth, ahead of Pierre Gasly continuing Alpine’s recent good form, with Sainz sixth and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso seventh.

Zhou Guanyu picked up his and Sauber’s first points in eighth, ahead of Kevin Magnussen for Haas in ninth and Norris 10th after having been dropped to 15th by the penalty.

Lewis Hamilton and Sainz both picked up punctures shortly after a discarded wing mirror on the track was shattered by Valtteri Bottas’ Sauber. Carbon fiber and glass were spread across the circuit, bringing out the safety car again.

It was a long, hard race for seven-time champion Hamilton, who also had penalties for jumping the start and speeding in the pit lane as he trailed in 12th.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

From the left, second-aced Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco, first-placed Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, and third-placed McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia stand on the podium during the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

From the left, second-aced Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco, first-placed Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, and third-placed McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia stand on the podium during the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands stands on the podium after winning the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain in action during the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands in action during the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands parks the car after winning the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after winng the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates after winng the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

After a chaotic end to the regular season in college football, the matchups are set for championship week. Here’s a look at the showdowns coming up in the Power Four and Group of Five, with AP Top 25 rankings. All championship games are Saturday, Dec. 7, except in the American Athletic, Conference USA and Mountain West, which will be played Friday, Dec. 6.

No. 8 SMU (11-1, 8-0 ACC, No. 9 CFP) vs. No. 18 Clemson (9-3, 7-1, No. 12 CFP) at Charlotte, North Carolina.

BetMGM College Football Odds: SMU by 2.5.

What to know: The Mustangs completed a sweep of their first ACC schedule with a 38-6 win over California, making them the only team in their new league that didn’t lose a conference game; SMU has a 17-game conference winning streak dating to its days in the American Athletic. Clemson, which advanced to the title game after Miami lost at Syracuse, will be seeking its eighth ACC crown in the past 10 years.

No. 1 Oregon (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten, No. 1 CFP) vs. No. 3 Penn State (11-1, 8-1, No. 4 CFP) at Indianapolis.

BetMGM College Football Odds: Oregon by 3.5.

What to know: The Nittany Lions have been one of the quietest one-loss teams all season but get a chance for a big win and a higher CFP seed with a victory in this one. They will face the last unbeaten team in college football in the Ducks, who finished the regular season without loss for the first time since 2010.

No. 12 Arizona State (10-2, 7-2 Big 12, No. 16 CFP) vs. No. 16 Iowa State (10-2, 7-2, No. 18 CFP) at Arlington, Texas.

BetMGM College Football Odds: Arizona State by 2.5.

What to know: The Sun Devils rode Cam Skattebo (177 yards and three touchdowns) in a big win over rival Arizona to land a title game berth after perhaps the wildest of all power conference races. The Cyclones will make their second appearance in the conference championship game. They lost to Oklahoma in 2020.

No. 2 Texas (11-1, 7-1 SEC, No. 3 CFP) vs. No. 5 Georgia (10-2, 6-2, No. 7 CFP) at Atlanta.

BetMGM College Football Odds: Texas by 2.5.

What to know: The Longhorns have national title hopes but first get a chance to win a championship in their first year in the SEC. They will also get a chance to avenge their only loss of the season against the resilient and dangerous Bulldogs, who advanced after an epic overtime win against Georgia Tech.

No. 24 Army (10-1, 8-0 AAC) vs. Tulane (9-3, 7-1) at West Point, New York.

BetMGM College Football Odds: Tulane by 4.5.

What to know: The Green Wave's loss to Memphis over the weekend likely cost the league any hope of a playoff bid but both teams are going to the postseason regardless. Army still has its annual showdown with Navy before a bowl game, too.

Jacksonville State (8-4, 7-1 CUSA) vs. Western Kentucky (8-4, 6-2) at Jacksonville, Alabama.

BetMGM College Football Odds: Jacksonville State by 3.

What to know: The C-USA title game pits two teams in a rematch six days after facing each other. WKU handed the Gamecocks their first league loss, 19-17 on Saturday night, and will have to beat them again for the title.

Ohio (9-3, 7-1 MAC) and Miami (Ohio) (8-4, 7-1) at Detroit.

BetMGM College Football Odds: Miami (Ohio) by 2.5.

What to know: The two Ohio schools met earlier this season, with the RedHawks beating the visiting Bobcats 30-20. Ohio has won seven of its last eight.

No. 10 Boise State (11-1, 7-0 MWC, No. 11 CFP) vs. No. 19 UNLV (10-2, 6-1, No. 22 CFP) at Boise, Idaho.

BetMGM College Football Odds: Boise State by 4.

What to know: The Broncos bring a 10-game winning streak into the championship game, have won 11 straight at home and are on the verge of making the College Football Playoff behind Heisman Trophy candidate Ashton Jeanty. They have made the Mountain West title game three straight seasons. This one is a rematch of the title game a year ago won by Boise State and a regular-season matchup in October, a 29-24 Broncos win.

Louisiana-Lafayette (10-2, 7-1 Sun Belt) vs. Marshall (9-3, 7-1) at Lafayette, Louisiana.

BetMGM College Football Odds: Louisiana-Lafeyette by 3.5.

What to know: The Ragin' Cajuns earned a spot in the championship for the fifth time in the seven-year history of the game. Marshall beat James Madison 35-33 in double overtime to clinch a spot for the first time in program history.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Georgia running back Nate Frazier (3) celebrates his game-winning score against Georgia Tech in overtime in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Athens, Ga. Georgia won in eight overtime periods. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Penn State tight end Tyler Warren (44) hurdles Maryland defensive back Kevis Thomas (25) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)