INTERNATIONAL: Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton has won the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix for Mercedes on Sunday, followed by Max Verstappen, with Fernando Alonso finishing third. Qatar Grand Prix is a Formula One motor racing event part of the 2021 championship and will join the calendar again in 2023 on a 10-year contract.

British racing driver Lewis Hamilton has won the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix, cutting Max Verstappen's overall Formula One lead to eight points with two races remaining. Red Bull's Verstappen was second, after starting seventh following a five-place grid drop for failing to respect warning flags in Saturday's qualifying, but took a bonus point for fastest lap.

Winner Lewis Hamilton says, "It was pretty straightforward, it's pretty lonely at the front. Of course I enjoy those races where you're battling through but we needed those points today so I think a real solid job from the team."

Double world champion Fernando Alonso was third for Renault-owned Alpine, the 40-year-old Spaniard's first podium finish since 2014. The win was Hamilton's seventh from 20 races this season and the record-extending 102nd of his career also continued his record of being first to win at new circuits on the calendar. Verstappen, who has nine wins this year, carried out another solid piece of damage limitation as Red Bull cut Mercedes lead in the constructors' standings from 11 to five points.

Second placer Max Verstappen says, "Of course, my starting position was a bit compromised but luckily we had a really good start and from then on I was quickly back into second so at the end of the day to get that fast lap was very nice and of course I know it's going to be difficult to the end but I think that's nice, it keeps it exciting."

The Dutch 24-year-old can still win the championship with a race to spare at the next round in Saudi Arabia if Hamilton fails to score. Mexican Sergio Perez was fourth for Red Bull with Frenchman Esteban Ocon fifth for Alpine in a race with a sudden spate of punctures late on among those trying to make a single stop work. Lance Stroll took sixth for Aston Martin, ahead of the Ferrari pairing of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. Lando Norris finished ninth for McLaren and Sebastian Vettel 10th for Aston Martin.

^{PHOTO: HIGHLIGHTS OF INAUGURAL QATAR GRAND PRIX INCLUDING COMMENTS FROM WINNER LEWIS HAMILTON, SECOND-PLACED MAX VERSTAPPEN AND THIRD-PLACED FERNANDO ALONSO}