While Times Square celebrated the release of F1 the movie in June, the real-season drama has been unfolding on track. For McLaren the last two races have been brutal: first the double disqualification in Las Vegas after underfloors wore below the legal limit, then a strategic blunder in Qatar that handed momentum back to Red Bull.
Losail is a rapid, flowing circuit where cars are flat-out for much of a lap, especially through Turns 12–15 where aero load and tyre wear peak. Pirelli imposed unusually high minimum pressures (29 psi front, 24.5 psi rear) and, unusually, a maximum tyre stint of 25 laps — tyres used beyond that incurred an effective 30-second time penalty. On a 57-lap race that effectively forced teams into two 25-lap stints, with the first legal stop falling on Lap 7.
Most expected Lap 7 and Lap 32 to be decisive. When Nico Hülkenberg stopped stranded after contact with Pierre Gasly and the Safety Car was deployed on Lap 7, anyone who pitted then could legally make it to the finish — effectively a nearly free stop worth around 26 seconds on this track. But the pit lane descended into chaos, and turning around both cars from the same garage while avoiding mistakes proved tricky.
McLaren chose not to pit Oscar Piastri from the lead or Lando Norris from third, preferring strategic flexibility over being locked into two rigid 25-lap runs. Andrea Stella later confirmed it was deliberate. It backfired. Most rivals, including Max Verstappen, dived in and emerged with much fresher rubber; on the restart Verstappen had the pace to chase down the McLarens. McLaren had gambled on three things lining up: that others might stay out, that tyre flexibility would pay off later (or another Safety Car would help), and that fresher rubber would not be decisive. None of those scenarios happened.
Piastri’s weekend was exceptional — two poles, a dominant Sprint win and the fastest car in the race — so seeing him lose the victory felt especially bitter. He cut into 18 of the 26 seconds Verstappen gained but still finished eight seconds adrift. Given his pace, it’s hard not to view the strategy as a needless sacrifice.
Verstappen delivered a measured, ruthless performance, seizing the opportunity and keeping the title fight alive for Abu Dhabi. He plays a calm public game — even claiming he doesn’t care about the championship — but that’s clearly part tactic; he wants the crown and has shown it in how passionately he reacts when things go wrong. His clash with George Russell in Barcelona, which cost him 11 points, was proof he cares deeply.
Norris had an untidy weekend at a track he’s occasionally found difficult. He missed the final runs in qualifying, made errors on the way to the grid, and after his second stop he rejoined behind Carlos Sainz and Kimi Antonelli. He only regained fourth when Antonelli ran wide on the penultimate lap. Red Bull bizarrely suggested Mercedes had deliberately let Norris through — a claim later withdrawn — but it’s hard to believe Mercedes would gift points to McLaren given their own battle for second in the Constructors’ standings.
Carlos Sainz’s podium for Williams was one of the happier stories: when the opportunity presented itself he seized it, and Williams’ Lap 7 call dropped him back into the melee perfectly. It’s his second podium in seven races and a deserved reward. Team-mate Alex Albon, by contrast, has endured a frustrating run with no points in that same stretch.
Ferrari had a dire weekend, a situation team boss Frédéric Vasseur partly blamed on the high tyre pressures. The cars lacked rear grip and balance and now sit fourth in the Constructors’ table behind Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes. Charles Leclerc looked to be wrestling his car to an eventual P8, while Lewis Hamilton — who will be replaced by Antonelli at Mercedes next year — had an anonymous P12. Antonelli sits just two points behind Hamilton in the standings, a stark illustration of how tough this season has been for Lewis.
Norris still leads the championship by 12 points. If McLaren can reset, stay composed and execute a clean Abu Dhabi weekend, they have the drivers and the machinery to claim the title. It would be a shame if the championship boiled down to a single race that left two deserving drivers on the sidelines.
May the calmest, best driver win. Don’t miss the finale.
MB
The 2025 Formula 1 season concludes with the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday. Stream Sky Sports with NOW — no contract, cancel anytime.