430-point F1 driver receives three-word message from Zinedine Zidane after impressive Qatar Grand Prix

Max Verstappen claimed his ninth victory of the 2024 season at the Qatar Grand Prix, extending his championship lead over Lando Norris to 80 points.

The McLaren driver had been challenging the Dutchman for the win when he was hit with a 10-second stop-and-go penalty for failing to lift under yellow flags. Verstappen reported Norris’ infringement over his radio, which ultimately led to the Brit falling from second to 14th, finishing the race in 10th.

Charles Leclerc finished second for Ferrari and now moves just eight points behind Norris in the drivers’ championship heading into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Brit’s McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri – who won the Sprint race – locked out the podium.

As well as the usual suspects finishing at the front, there were some standout results in the rest of the field. Zhou Guanyu scored Sauber their first points of the season with an impressive eighth place, while Fernando Alonso drove well to finish seventh – his best result since Baku.

Kevin Magnussen drove a solid race to finish ninth for Haas. But the standout finish came from Pierre Gasly, who guided his Alpine to an impressive fifth.

Zinedine Zidane congratulates Pierre Gasily on his impressive Qatar Grand Prix result

It has been a disappointing 2024 season for Alpine, who have taken a huge step back in performance and have struggled to regularly score points.

Before the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, the Enstone-based team had only scored 14 points from the previous 20 races. But Alpine suddenly propelled themselves up the order in Brazil with an incredible double podium in the torrential rain – Esteban Ocon finishing second and Gasly third.

The result moved the team to sixth in the Constructors’ Championship over Haas and RB. Alpine are five points ahead of the former heading into Abu Dhabi in what will be an interesting battle in the midfield with millions on the line.

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Gasly gave Alpine the advantage over their rivals with his result in Qatar as he stayed out of trouble to finish fifth – his second best result of the year after his Sao Paulo podium.

And the 28-year-old’s performance received praise from one of football’s greatest icons in fellow countryman Zinedine Zidane. The former Real Madrid player and manager and Ballon d’Or winner took to his Instagram story to congratulate Gasly on his efforts in Qatar: “P5! Bravo Pierre! Congratulations @pierregasly @alpinef1team @alpinecars.”

This will no doubt be an incredible moment, given that Gasly idolises Zidane and races the No. 10 in F1 because the 52-year-old used to wear the number for the French national team.

Pierre Gasly will have a new teammate at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

As F1 heads to the season finale in Abu Dhabi, Gasly will be keen to continue the momentum and help Alpine finish sixth in the constructors’ standings. But the Frenchman will do so with a new teammate across the garage.

Alpine’s 2025 signing Jack Doohan will make his F1 debut at the Yas Marina Circuit, with Ocon departing the team early to move to Haas.

Doohan has a great opportunity to prove himself to the Enstone-based outfit in F1 machinery before he takes on the sport full-time in 2025.

Doohan has already impressed in Abu Dhabi from his time in Formula 2, and Alpine will be hoping the Aussie can continue that good form to give them the edge over their rivals Haas and RB.