The Qatar Grand Prix marked the last opportunity of the year to influence the odds at Fanta F1, and it did not disappoint in terms of twists and turns. Between retirements, penalties and surprising performances, the weekend in Lusail was the scene of a real revolution, with some drivers seeing their value increase and others paying dearly for their mistakes. The rebirth of Max Verstappen, back to his unchallenged dominance after a penalty in qualifying, acted as a counterpoint to the many controversial episodes that animated the race. Lando Norris made fatal errors, compromising McLaren's result on a track that seemed perfect for the Woking team. Ferrari, on the other hand, took advantage of the confusion to nibble away important points in the race for the constructors' title, with Charles Leclerc in great form. There were moments of chaos, such as the one caused by Alex Albon's lost mirror and inexplicably left on the track for several laps, or the numerous retirements that affected the outcome of the race. In this frenetic scenario, the last variations in the odds of the season were defined. Here's who's up and who's down in Fanta F1 after Qatar.
Pilots who rise in price
Charles Leclerc: the Ferrari driver was one of the great protagonists of the weekend, taking home a second place that was fundamental for the Maranello team. On a circuit that did not seem favorable to the Reds, Leclerc demonstrated skill and composure, taking advantage of every mistake made by his opponents and completing an impeccable race. This result earned him an increase in his rating, crowning a season in which he often shone in difficult moments.
Pierre Gasly: Gasly was the light in a complicated weekend for Alpine. Starting 11th, he managed to climb up to fifth place with an intelligent and combative race, making important overtaking moves on Yuki Tsunoda and Kevin Magnussen. As well as a spectacular defense on Sainz.
Zhou Guangyu: Zhou finally had a positive weekend, scoring his first points of the season and bringing Sauber back into the points. In a chaotic race, the Chinese driver kept his cool, taking advantage of the opportunities created by the chaos on track and showing a solid pace.
Pilots who are dropping in value
Esteban Ocon: Ocon's weekend was disastrous from the start. Involved in a first-lap accident, the Frenchman was forced to retire and will not even have the chance to make up for it in Abu Dhabi. Alpine has decided to replace him with Jack Doohan for the final race of the season.
Sergio Perez: another race to forget for the Mexican driver, who continued to suffer in comparison with Verstappen. Perez lost control of his Red Bull in the race, retiring after a fatal error. With Verstappen in top form, the contrast between the two Red Bull drivers could not be more evident, and his stock price inevitably drops.
Lando Norris: The McLaren driver squandered a golden opportunity in Qatar, making mistakes that compromised his and the team's race. A reckless attack on Verstappen and a penalty for not slowing down under yellow flags cost him precious constructors' points. The drop in his rating reflects a performance below expectations, especially on a circuit where McLaren should have shone.
With the latest change in odds at the Fanta F1 in Qatar, all attention is now turned to Abu Dhabi, where the final chapter of a championship that has been able to provide spectacle and twists until the end will be written. Who will surprise at Yas Marina?
