McLaren’s Crucial Mistake Reshapes the Title Picture
Formula 1 moves toward its first three-driver finale in 15 years after Max Verstappen won a dramatic Qatar Grand Prix because McLaren made a decisive strategy error. Lando Norris called it “not our greatest day”, which understated how his team lost a clear win. Norris’ lead fell to 12 points before Abu Dhabi, with Oscar Piastri four points behind. Piastri felt stunned as he realised a certain win slipped into second place and his title position dropped from second to third. “It’s pretty painful,” he said. Norris remains favourite because a third place secures the title even if Verstappen wins. Qatar reminded everyone that momentum can swing fast. The situation recalls 2010, when Fernando Alonso led Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel before Ferrari’s mistake allowed Vettel to claim his first crown.
The Decision That Flipped the Race
McLaren endured another painful weekend after losing strong finishes through disqualifications in Las Vegas. Before Qatar, Zak Brown compared Verstappen to a horror villain who always returns. Ironically, McLaren created their own nightmare at Lusail. They gifted Verstappen a win that raises pressure ahead of a gripping finale. When a safety car appeared on lap seven after a clash between Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly, every team pitted for fresh tyres except McLaren. The decision baffled rivals because Pirelli enforced a 25-lap limit on each tyre set. The safety car arrived with 50 laps left, which made two equal stints ideal. A stop under safety car saves nine seconds, making the timing perfect. Verstappen recognised the opportunity immediately and expected McLaren to react. “I was surprised. I thought this gave us a great chance to win,” he said.
Why McLaren Ignored the Clear Option
Norris questioned the call instantly and asked why his strategy differed from Piastri’s. His engineer Will Joseph said they wanted more choices later. That approach cost vital track position on a circuit where overtaking hardly works. They would exit later pit stops behind Verstappen regardless. Team principal Andrea Stella said they feared rivals might stay out, which could trap McLaren behind cars that skipped the stop. The race showed that anyone staying out would lose that position later, so the logic failed. Stella offered no excuses and promised a full review. He said the team needed to check whether group thinking influenced their process.
Did Driver Equality Influence the Strategy?
Rivals suspected another factor linked to McLaren’s strict fairness approach. Piastri held pit priority as leader, so he would always stop first. Norris needed a double-stack stop, which costs around five seconds. Norris already ran behind Verstappen and risked dropping behind Kimi Antonelli and Carlos Sainz if he double-stacked. Stella called this an “extra consideration” but denied it drove the final decision. Some observers believed McLaren favoured Norris this season, pointing to Hungary and Italy. Zak Brown dismissed that idea earlier, calling claims of bias “nonsense”. Stella would likely give the same response now.
High-Stakes Abu Dhabi Finale Awaits
For the sport, this outcome creates a dream decider. For McLaren, it brings pressure and intensity before a crucial Sunday. Norris stayed calm and said he would treat the finale like any other weekend. Piastri tried to balance disappointment with perspective after losing a clear win. He said setbacks helped him grow and expected to recover emotionally soon. Verstappen enjoyed the chance to fight for a title he once viewed as unlikely. He said he felt relaxed and ready to enjoy the challenge. McLaren now face deep analysis after a costly call in Lusail.
