Lando Norris admitted he just wanted to go to bed after Max Verstappen capitalized on a disastrous McLaren strategy call at the Qatar Grand Prix. Verstappen’s victory has set up a thrilling title showdown that will be decided in Abu Dhabi next weekend.
Heading into the race, Norris aimed to secure the world championship in Doha, but he finished fourth, now holding a slender 12-point lead over Verstappen. Norris’s McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, who finished second behind Verstappen, is 16 points behind the Dutchman in the title race.
Despite McLaren appearing in control for much of the 57-lap contest, the strategy unravelled after a safety car was deployed on lap seven when Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly collided. McLaren instructed both Norris and Piastri not to pit, while nearly all other drivers changed tyres as two stops were mandatory. Only Haas’s Esteban Ocon, like McLaren’s pair, stayed out.
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This gamble handed Verstappen the advantage he needed to keep his bid for a fifth consecutive championship alive. The Red Bull driver powered home nearly eight seconds ahead of Piastri, with Norris trailing behind Carlos Sainz in fourth place.
Reflecting on the race, Norris said, “It will feel the same as every weekend. I try and beat them. They try and beat me. It is nothing different, but I just want to go to bed. We took the gamble and it was the wrong decision. There’s nothing I can do about it now.”
He acknowledged his performance wasn’t his best but remained hopeful for the decisive Abu Dhabi finale: “Everyone has bad weekends. I take it on the chin, and we’ll see what we can do.”
McLaren had already secured the constructors' championship in Azerbaijan in September, but Verstappen’s recent form—winning five of the last eight races—has tightened the championship battle.
The Qatar strategy mishap compounds McLaren’s recent woes, coming just a week after Norris and Piastri were disqualified for running illegal cars in Las Vegas.
Piastri expressed his frustration over team radio, saying, “Speechless. I am lost for words.” He later added, “Clearly we didn’t get it right today. I feel like I have lost a win. It’s painful for the team and for me personally.”
Verstappen himself was surprised by McLaren’s decision to stay out: “I was like, ‘that is an interesting move.’ It shows that racing isn’t always straightforward.”
Looking ahead to Abu Dhabi, Verstappen remains confident: “I’m excited to have a go at it. On pure pace, we’re not at McLaren’s level, but when strategy comes into play, there might be an opportunity.”