McLaren’s Strategy Error Transforms the Fight
Formula 1 heads toward its first three-driver finale in 15 years after Max Verstappen claimed a dramatic Qatar Grand Prix because McLaren made a decisive strategy mistake. Lando Norris described the day as “not our greatest”, which understated how his team lost a clear win. Norris’ lead slipped to 12 points ahead of Abu Dhabi, with Oscar Piastri four points behind. Piastri felt stunned as he realised a certain win became second place and his title position dropped from second to third. “It’s pretty painful,” he admitted. Norris remains favourite because a third place secures the title even if Verstappen wins. Qatar reminded everyone that anything can change instantly. The situation recalls 2010, when Fernando Alonso led Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel before Ferrari’s error opened the door for Vettel’s first championship.
The Misjudgment That Shifted the Race
McLaren suffered another tough weekend after losing strong results through disqualifications in Las Vegas. Before Qatar, Zak Brown compared Verstappen to a horror villain who always returns. Ironically, McLaren created their own horror story in Lusail. They handed Verstappen a win that increases pressure ahead of a thrilling 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 remaining, which made two equal stints ideal. A safety-car stop saves nine seconds, making the call straightforward. Verstappen saw the advantage immediately and expected McLaren to follow. “I was surprised. I thought this gave us a great chance to win,” he said.
Why McLaren Avoided the Logical Call
Norris questioned the choice straight away and asked why his strategy differed from Piastri’s. His engineer Will Joseph said they wanted more flexibility later in the race. That choice cost them track position on a circuit where overtaking rarely works. They would leave 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 place later, so the logic failed. Stella avoided excuses and promised a full review. He said the team needed to examine whether group thinking influenced the decision.
Did Equal Treatment Complicate the Strategy?
Rivals suspected another factor tied to McLaren’s strong equality policy. 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 said this was an “extra consideration” but not the main reason. Some observers believed McLaren favoured Norris this season, pointing to Hungary and Italy. Zak Brown rejected that claim earlier, calling any idea of bias “nonsense”. Stella would likely give the same answer now.
Abu Dhabi Prepares for a Fierce Championship Finale
For the sport, this result sets up a dream showdown. For McLaren, it brings pressure and nerves before a decisive Sunday. Norris stayed calm and said he would treat the final race like any other weekend. Piastri tried to balance frustration 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 considered out of reach. He said he felt relaxed and ready to enjoy the challenge. McLaren now face deep reflection after a costly strategic error in Lusail.
