The Formula 1 world championship will be decided at the final race after a dramatic turnaround in Qatar. Max Verstappen, whose title defense had appeared all but over just months ago, claimed a crucial victory at the Lusail International Circuit. The win, combined with a strategic misstep by the McLaren team, has dramatically closed the gap to championship leader Lando Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri, setting up a three-way showdown in Abu Dhabi.
Entering the weekend, Norris held a comfortable 24-point cushion over both Verstappen and Piastri. However, the race was turned on its head by a pivotal early safety car period. While the majority of the field, including Verstappen’s Red Bull, opted to make a “free” pit stop, McLaren chose to keep both of its drivers out on track. The decision proved costly, handing Verstappen a lead he would not relinquish.
Piastri, who started from pole position, finished a frustrated second, while Norris could only manage fourth after suffering car damage during the race. The result slashes the points deficit, with Norris now leading Verstappen by just 12 points and Piastri a further four points adrift.
The outcome marks a stunning reversal of fortune. Following the Dutch Grand Prix in late August, Verstappen trailed by over 100 points and had publicly conceded his championship hopes were finished. A series of car upgrades from Red Bull, however, addressed earlier performance issues, allowing the reigning champion to mount a relentless charge back into contention as the two McLaren drivers split points between them.
McLaren’s late-season campaign has been hampered by self-inflicted errors. The Qatar strategy blunder comes on the heels of a double disqualification for both drivers at the previous round in Las Vegas. The team’s steadfast policy of allowing its drivers to race freely, without favoring one for the title, is now under intense scrutiny. Team principal Andrea Stella defended the approach post-race, calling the pit stop decision a “misjudgment” influenced by a desire for fairness and concerns over losing track position.
With 25 points available to the winner in Abu Dhabi, the mathematics are simple yet tense. Norris can secure his first world title by finishing ahead of both Verstappen and Piastri, or simply by claiming third place. However, what once seemed a straightforward intra-team battle for the crown has been transformed into a high-pressure finale, with a resurgent Verstappen poised to capitalize on any further slip-ups.