Pakistan, Dec. 1 -- Verstappen's victory lifted him to 396 points, 12 behind championship leader Lando Norris, who finished fourth. Oscar Piastri, who started from pole, slipped to third in the standings, 16 points adrift of Norris, with one race remaining in Abu Dhabi next Sunday, where Verstappen has been dominant in recent years.

"It's all possible," said Verstappen, chasing a fifth consecutive world title. Norris, however, still holds a slight advantage and can secure the championship with a podium finish regardless of his rivals' results. Verstappen finished 7.995 seconds ahead of Piastri, with Carlos Sainz taking third, followed by Norris and the Mercedes pair of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.

The victory marked Verstappen's s...