The Red Bull star crossed the line ahead of Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz

Max Verstappen has opened up after winning the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday to set up a blockbuster F1 finale in Abu Dhabi next weekend.

The Dutchman quickly overtook Lando Norris at the start of the race and didn’t let up as he boosted his chances of securing the crown for the fifth year on the trot.

On a day where McLaren struggled with their strategy, Red Bull took full advantage.

Verstappen, dismissed by so many earlier in the season, was nothing short of sensational as he pipped both Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz Jr to the finish line.

McLaren paid the price by failing to pit once a safety car was deployed, much to the dismay of their rivals.

Red Bull, contrastingly, did – with Verstappen going on to secure a triumph of potentially title-altering proportions.

Speaking after his triumph in the Middle East, the defending champion rubbed salt into his rival’s wounds by hailing Red Bull’s strategy – and describing McLaren’s as ‘interesting’.

The greatest drivers in F1 history | GETTY/GBNEWS

“This was an incredible race for us. We made the right call as a team to box under that Safety Car. That was smart,” he stated.

“I’m super happy to win here. We stay in the fight until the end. Incredible!

“It was a very strong race on a weekend that was a bit tough but we won the race and that was important.”

Max Verstappen was mobbed by Red Bull staff after winning the Qatar Grand Prix| REUTERS

When asked about McLaren’s strategy, he added: “I was like that’s an interesting move! I knew we had a gap but you still need to keep the tyres alive.

“The tyre wear is high around here and luckily it all worked out.”

One driver devastated by the race was Piastri, whose dreams of a first F1 title are now hanging by a thread.

He said on the team radio that he was ‘speechless’ – and said in his post-race interview that the team simply ‘didn’t get it right’.

“Clearly we didn’t get it right tonight,” said the Australian. “I drove the best race that I could and as fast as I could. There was nothing left out there.

“I tried my best but it wasn’t to be tonight unfortunately.

“I think in hindsight it’s pretty obvious what we would have done, but I’m sure we’ll discuss it as a team.

“It’s not all bad. It’s been a really good weekend and the pace has been very strong.

“Obviously it’s a little bit tough to swallow at the moment.”

Max Verstappen has boosted his hopes of F1 title glory with his triumph in Qatar | REUTERS

Sainz, who finished third, added: “I’m so happy, so proud of the whole team, of what we’ve done today because we came into this weekend thinking it was going to be the most difficult weekend of the year and suddenly we came out with a podium.

“We nailed the race pace. I was super quick, much quicker than expected.

“We nailed the strategy, nailed the tyre management, the start, the defending and management – and that brought us an unexpected podium, so I cannot be more proud.

“We got everything right today.

“We had a tough first half of the season when things didn’t come together, but we improved in so many areas during the year and today there were a few opportunities out there to grab, and we grabbed all of them by executing a perfect race.

“I’m over the moon with this podium because I absolutely didn’t expect it.”