Lando Norris’ quest for the Formula 1 world championship will stretch to the season finale in Abu Dhabi next weekend after Max Verstappen took full advantage of a strategic misstep by McLaren to win the Qatar Grand Prix.
Norris finished a distant fourth, while Verstappen’s victory narrows the gap to just 12 points heading into the final race. Oscar Piastri secured second place under the floodlights, but trails Verstappen by 16 points, with 25 points still available in Abu Dhabi.
The 57-lap race initially seemed to favour McLaren, despite Norris dropping from second to third behind Verstappen at the start. Piastri took the lead, but a pivotal moment occurred on lap seven when a safety car was deployed after a collision between Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly.
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Unlike Norris and Piastri, all other drivers except Esteban Ocon took the opportunity to pit for new tyres, a mandatory move given tyre wear concerns. McLaren’s decision to keep both drivers on track during the safety car period ultimately cost them dearly, allowing Verstappen to gain the upper hand.
From there, Verstappen maintained control, crossing the finish line 7.9 seconds ahead of Piastri, with Norris trailing behind Carlos Sainz in fourth. Norris narrowly avoided losing control on lap 36, underscoring the pressure he faced.
Norris remains in contention and will secure the championship if he finishes at least third in Abu Dhabi. McLaren, desperate to halt Verstappen’s relentless pursuit, now face a daunting challenge. Zak Brown, McLaren’s CEO, had previously referred to Verstappen as the “guy in the horror movie that keeps coming back,” reflecting their frustration.
Verstappen praised his team’s strategy, calling their safety car pit stop “smart” and expressing satisfaction with keeping his title hopes alive. When asked about McLaren’s controversial call, Verstappen remarked, “that is an interesting move.”
Piastri, visibly frustrated, admitted post-race, “Clearly, we didn’t get it right tonight. I drove the best race I could… In hindsight, it is pretty obvious what we should have done.”
The race’s defining moment came when McLaren opted not to pit during the safety car. This decision left both drivers stranded out of sync with the rest of the pack. Once they eventually pitted, they found themselves behind Verstappen and others, complicating their title challenge.
Despite overtaking some rivals in the closing laps, Norris was unable to catch the leading trio. The door is now wide open for Verstappen to challenge McLaren’s recent dominance, including their constructors' championship win in Azerbaijan last month.
With Abu Dhabi looming as the decisive showdown, the tension is palpable. Norris and Piastri will need flawless execution, while Verstappen remains ready to pounce on any opportunity to secure his fifth consecutive world title.