Max Verstappen won the Qatar GP after a controversial McLaren strategy call, narrowing Lando Norris's championship lead to 12 points. (Image: Reuters)
A stunned silence from Oscar Piastri’s car radio said it all. In a dramatic Qatar Grand Prix, a single strategy error saw McLaren snatch defeat from the brink of victory, giving Red Bull’s Max Verstappen a vital win. This sets up a final-race championship showdown in Abu Dhabi, where Lando Norris, Verstappen, and Piastri will battle for the title.
The race's turning point came on lap seven when a safety car was deployed after a crash. While every other team, including Red Bull, pitted their cars, McLaren chose to keep both Norris and Piastri on track. The team believed this would give them more strategic flexibility later. However, this decision flew in the face of conventional wisdom at the Lusail circuit, where overtaking is difficult. By skipping a pit stop, McLaren gave up their track position to Verstappen, triggering a series of events that ultimately caused them to lose the lead permanently in the race.
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McLaren was put on the defensive by the decision. Their drivers had to stick to a fixed two-stop strategy, while Verstappen, benefiting from track position, managed the race from the front and kept control over the proceedings. In a desperate late move, Piastri pitted early for his final stop to chase down Verstappen, but the gap was too large to close. Norris, meanwhile, struggled with his car and had a massive moment where he nearly crashed, ultimately finishing a frustrated fourth after a tough battle through the midfield. The Williams of Carlos Sainz capitalised on the chaos to claim a surprise podium.
The disappointment was palpable in the McLaren garage. A dejected Piastri stated over his team radio, "No words," and later added, "Clearly we didn’t get it right tonight... In hindsight, it's pretty obvious what we should have done." Norris was equally critical, admitting, "We made the wrong decision, that was clear as soon as it happened." In contrast, a jubilant Verstappen praised his team's "smart" and "incredible" call, noting that they had made the right decision to pit under the safety car and capitalise on McLaren's error.
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The Qatar result has dramatically tightened the championship standings with just one race remaining. Norris now holds a slim 12-point lead over Verstappen, with Piastri a further four points behind. The final showdown is set at Yas Marina Circuit. For Norris to claim the title, he needs to finish at least third if Verstappen wins. The pressure is enormous, with everything depending on a single, winner-takes-all race under the bright lights of Abu Dhabi.
