A critical strategic error by the McLaren team in Qatar has thrown the Formula 1 world championship wide open, setting the stage for a three-way showdown at the season finale.
While Max Verstappen celebrated victory at the Lusail International Circuit, the mood in the McLaren garage was one of palpable frustration. The race turned on a pivotal safety car period, where the team opted not to bring its drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, into the pits for fresh tyres. The rest of the field, including Verstappen, did pit, handing the Dutchman a decisive advantage he would not relinquish.
The result drastically reshaped the title picture. Norris, who arrived in Qatar with a 24-point cushion over both his teammate and Verstappen, now sees his lead cut to just 12 points over the Red Bull driver and 16 over Piastri. He could only manage a fourth-place finish, while a charging Piastri secured second.
Both drivers were openly critical of the team’s call in post-race comments. Norris labeled the weekend far from the team’s “greatest,” explicitly stating that a double pit stop was the correct move, even if it cost him momentary time. Piastri, whose race pace was formidable, described his frustration level as “pretty high,” calling the misstep “painful” after a strong overall weekend.
The blunder marks another setback for McLaren’s operational execution, coming just one race after a double disqualification in Las Vegas. Team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged the team’s recent failures to capitalize on the car’s potential and the drivers’ performances, admitting the drivers had “all the reasons to be disappointed.”
Despite the mounting pressure, Stella confirmed McLaren would not alter its philosophy for the winner-takes-all finale in Abu Dhabi. The team will continue to allow both Norris and Piastri to race freely, ruling out the use of team orders to favour one driver over the other. Stella emphasized principles of fairness, integrity, and transparency with the drivers, promising further discussions before the final race.
For Verstappen, the victory completes a remarkable resurgence. Once written off after a difficult first half of the season, the reigning champion has fought his way back into contention. He expressed pride in his team’s resilience, admitting that at one stage, winning the title this year seemed an almost impossible task.
The stage is now set for a high-stakes climax in Abu Dhabi, with McLaren needing a flawless weekend to recover from a self-inflicted wound and secure its first drivers’ title in over a decade.