F1: McLaren’s strategy error in Qatar pushes Verstappen to fight for fifth place in Abu Dhabi

Max Verstappen of Red Bull took victory in the Grande Prêmio of Catar of The Dutchman took advantage of a strategic error by McLaren to cross the finish line ahead of Oscar Piastri and reduce the deficit to the leader Lando Norris at Mundial of Pilotos.

The race, the penultimate stage of the 2025 season, saw the introduction of the safety car on the seventh lap following a collision between Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly. Enquanto most teams opted to change tires, McLaren kept Norris and Piastri on the track, which compromised their positions.

Norris finished fourth, inheriting the position after an error by Andrea Kimi Antonelli on the 56th lap. Piastri secured second place, but the collective failure cost crucial points to the team, which had already suffered disqualification in Las Vegas in the previous stage.

With the result, the difference between Norris and Verstappen fell to 12 points, while Piastri remains 16 behind McLaren’s teammate. The championship decision now rests with the Abu Dhabi GP, scheduled for next weekend at Yas Marina Circuit.

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McLaren’s strategic failure in Lusail

The decision not to pit during the safety car took McLaren by surprise. Andrea Stella, team boss, admitted that the expectation was for a later stop, but excessive tire wear, limited to 25 laps by Pirelli for safety reasons, made the choice risky.

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, classified the episode as a clear error that handed victory to his rival. The team, dominant in Mundial from Construtores with an anticipated title, saw its advantage in Pilotos evaporate in a single lap.

Piastri, who started from pole, expressed frustration at missing a concrete chance of victory. Norris, in turn, avoided direct comments, but fourth place leaves him dependent on a good result in Abu Dhabi to seal the title.

The incident reinforces the need for agile decisions on high-degradation circuits such as Lusail, where abrasive asphalt accelerates rubber consumption.

Evolution of Red Bull drives Verstappen

The Red Bull has shown constant evolution since the F1 summer break. Verstappen, who spent much of the season in an inferior car to McLaren, has accumulated five victories in the last eight races, including Las Vegas and now Catar.

The Dutchman led most of the race in Lusail, managing the medium tires well after the early stop. Sua strategy, coordinated by engineer Hannah Schmitz, perfectly exploited the gap left by the rival.

With 396 points, Verstappen needs to surpass Norris by at least 13 points in Abu Dhabi to win the fifth consecutive victory. A triumph in the Yas Marina, combined with a fourth place for the Brit, would guarantee the title for the four-time champion.

• Verstappen podiums in the last stages: 7 victories in 23 races.
• Difference for Norris: Reduzida from 24 to 12 points after Catar.
• Mathematical chances: Precisa of top 3 to stay alive.

Red Bull’s reaction, despite McLaren’s overall dominance, highlights the Dutch driver’s resilience in making the most of the available equipment.

Parallels with the historic 1986 season

The current fight evokes memories of the 1986 season, when McLaren’s Alain Prost capitalized on Williams’s mistakes to take the second championship. In the decision in Adelaide, a burst tire in Nigel Mansell and caution with Nelson Piquet paved the way for the Frenchman.

Differently, in 2025, McLaren is in the role of favorite that stumbles internally. The neutrality between Norris and Piastri, without team orders, mirrors the hesitation of the past, but with more immediate consequences for leadership.

Prost led few races that year, similar to Verstappen’s uneven campaign this year. The victory in Lusail, however, repositions the Dutchman as a sniper, ready for a dramatic end.

F1 historians point out that pit stop decisions have defined 40% of titles since the 1980s, a pattern that is repeated now.

In Abu Dhabi, the Yas Marina circuit favors overtaking, which can amplify any strategic error. McLaren plans internal review to avoid repetitions.

Scenarios for the decision in Abu Dhabi

Norris reaches the final stage with 408 points, being able to guarantee the title with a podium, regardless of his rivals. A third place is enough if Verstappen wins, thanks to the count of second places as a tiebreaker.

Piastri, with 392 points, depends on a miracle: his own victory and Norris outside the top 5. Sua pole in Lusail shows potential, but the team’s strategy will be decisive.

Verstappen bets on pressure: “Racing without responsibility is an advantage,” said the Dutchman post-race. The Red Bull, focused on the Pilotos after the vice on the Construtores, aligns the car for maximum performance on the night track.

The race starts at 5pm local time, Abu Dhabi, with global transmission. Expectativa has a record audience at Yas Marina, the stage for iconic finals like the one in 2021.

Internal pressure at McLaren

The relationship between Norris and Piastri remains balanced, but McLaren’s management admits the need for a firmer hand. Stella emphasizes respect for the mathematical chances of both, avoiding favoritism.

Brown highlighted that the “papaya rules”, the team’s code of conduct, prioritizes fair play, but the error in Catar exposes vulnerabilities at critical moments. The pair have seven victories each, but tire management in Yas Marina will be tested.

Internally, the team schedules simulations for Abu Dhabi, focusing on safety car scenarios. The title of Construtores already won is a relief, but Pilotos defines the legacy.

Piastri, a 24-year-old Australian, is looking for his first trophy in his second full season. Norris, 25-year-old Brit, dreams of the end of McLaren’s 17-year fast in Pilotos.

Preparations for Yas Marina

The Abu Dhabi circuit, with 5.2 km and 21 curves, requires a balance between speed and traction. Verstappen has won the last three night editions, a clear tactical advantage.

Teams test aerodynamic updates, with McLaren betting on revised floors post-Las Vegas. The FIA ​​monitors compliance, following recent controversies.

Climatic factors: Temperatura mild at night, favoring soft compounds. Pirelli provides for two mandatory stops, similar to Catar.

• Advantages of Norris in Abu Dhabi: Vitória in 2024, best average lap on the route.
• Challenges for Verstappen: Necessidade of calculated risk for overtaking.
• Opportunity for Piastri: Recent Pole drives confidence in qualification.

The final promises tension, broadcast live to millions of global fans.

Verstappen, Norris and Piastri represent generations: the defended, the leading debutant and the underdog. F1 2025 ends with an unpredictable chapter, shaped by strategy and impeccable execution.