The Qatar Twist That Set Up an Unforgettable F1 Finale
So, the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix has basically handed us one of the wildest Formula 1 season endings we’ve seen in over a decade. What looked like a comfortable championship lead for Lando Norris has suddenly been shaken apart, all thanks to what can only be described as a painfully mistimed strategy call from McLaren. And now, heading into Abu Dhabi, we’ve got a three-way fight for the title involving Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri — something that hasn’t happened since 2010.
The whole situation turned chaotic the moment the safety car came out on lap seven after a collision between Nico Hülkenberg and Pierre Gasly. Every team understood the assignment: pit immediately, take advantage of the time saved under the safety car, and perfectly split the mandated 25-lap tyre stints. Every team did exactly that — except McLaren. This single choice flipped the race upside down.
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Even Norris couldn’t hide his confusion, asking his engineer why they stayed out when the call felt so obvious. Piastri, who had been poised for a clear win, was left momentarily stunned after realising the victory had slipped away and that he’d dropped from second to third in the championship standings. What made it harder to swallow was the simplicity of the math: staying out meant they would inevitably be swallowed by cars that had stopped under the safety car, especially at Qatar, where overtaking is nearly impossible.
Verstappen, meanwhile, understood the situation instantly. He pitted, rejoined, and immediately knew he’d been handed a golden opening. With the McLarens out of sync, he powered forward, took control of the race, and never looked back. It wasn’t just a win — it was a lifeline in a title battle he once thought was out of reach.
Now the standings are razor-thin. Norris leads Verstappen by just 12 points, with Piastri four more behind. Technically, Norris only needs to finish third in Abu Dhabi to secure his first world title, even if Verstappen wins. But Qatar has reminded us that nothing is guaranteed in Formula 1 — especially when strategy under pressure can make or break everything.
What adds another layer of intensity is McLaren’s recent turbulence: the double disqualification in Las Vegas, the slip-ups in Qatar, and constant murmurs in the paddock about whether both drivers are always being treated equally. McLaren denies any bias, of course, but the speculation hasn’t gone away.
Still, for fans, this is the dream scenario — three elite drivers, one final race, and a championship fight that could swing in any direction. For McLaren, though, the nerves will be real. They’ve got the fastest car, but also the most to lose. And as their team boss put it, racing has a way of teaching painful lessons. The only question left is who will handle the pressure best when the lights go out in Abu Dhabi.
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