We celebrated the release of ‘F1’ the movie in Times Square this June, but the real drama of the last two races has been something else. For McLaren it has been a horror show — double disqualification in Las Vegas for underfloors worn below regulation — and then a dramatic strategic misstep in Qatar.
Losail is a smooth, fast circuit where cars are flat out for roughly 70% of a lap, especially through Turns 12–15 where aerodynamic loads and tyre demands are huge. Pirelli set unusually high minimum tyre pressures (29 psi front, 24.5 psi rear) and, crucially, a maximum stint length of 25 laps: any tyre used for more than that attracted an effective 30-second penalty. On a 57-lap race that forced teams into two 25-lap stints to comply, with the earliest legal stop falling on Lap 7.
Pre-race everyone anticipated Lap 7 and Lap 32 as the key windows. When Nico Hülkenberg was stranded after contact with Pierre Gasly and the Safety Car came out on Lap 7, the field could legally pit and still make it to the end — effectively giving those who pitted a near-free stop worth about 26 seconds on this track. The pit lane chaos, though, made servicing both cars from a single garage and getting them safely back out a real challenge.
McLaren’s strategists elected not to pit Oscar Piastri from the lead nor Lando Norris from P3, preferring tyre flexibility over being boxed into two 25-lap stints. That was a conscious call, Andrea Stella confirmed, but it proved costly. Almost everyone else pitted, including Max Verstappen, who therefore rejoined with effectively fresh rubber and, on the restart, was able to chase down the McLarens with a substantial advantage. McLaren had gambled on three things outside their control: that others would stay out, that tyre flexibility would pay off later (or another Safety Car would help), and that fresher tyres at the end would be enough to pass a long-stint Verstappen. None of those played out.
Piastri was outstanding all weekend — two poles, a dominant Sprint win and the quickest car in the race — and it’s painful to see him lose out after such a weekend. He closed 18 of the 26 seconds Verstappen had gained but still finished eight seconds short. It felt like a needless strategic sacrifice given Piastri’s pace and the opportunity to pit and emerge still ahead.
Max delivered a masterclass drive to capitalise on McLaren’s choice and keep the title fight alive for Abu Dhabi. He plays a cool front, even saying post-race he doesn’t care about the championship — but that’s mind games. He wants it badly, and his hunger shows in how vocally he reacts when things aren’t right. His Barcelona clash with George Russell, which cost him 11 points, was evidence that he cares enormously.
Norris had a scruffy weekend at a circuit he has sometimes struggled with. He missed final qualifying laps, made mistakes on the run to the grid, and after his second stop found himself behind Carlos Sainz and Kimi Antonelli. He only reclaimed fourth when Antonelli ran wide on the penultimate lap. Red Bull oddly suggested Mercedes had intentionally let Norris through, a claim they later retracted — it’s hard to imagine Mercedes handing points to McLaren, given they’re battling for second in the Constructors’ Championship.
Carlos Sainz’s podium for Williams was a feel-good story: when offered an opportunity he grabbed it, and Williams’ pit call on Lap 7 fed him perfectly back into a chaotic pit lane. It’s his second podium in seven races and well deserved. Team-mate Alex Albon, by contrast, has had a frustrating run with no points in those same seven races.
Ferrari endured a miserable weekend, which team boss Fred Vasseur blamed in part on the high tyre pressures. They lacked rear grip and balance, and now sit fourth in the Constructors’ standings behind McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull. Charles Leclerc looked to be fighting his car every lap to a P8, and Lewis Hamilton — who replaced by Antonelli at Mercedes next year — had an anonymous P12. It’s a tough year for Ferrari and for Lewis; he can only hope the massive 2026 rule changes revive his prospects. Antonelli sits just two points behind Hamilton in the championship — a telling summary of Lewis’s season if the young Italian finishes above him.
Norris still leads the championship by 12 points. If McLaren can keep calm and methodical and deliver a straightforward Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, they have the tool and the driver to take the title. I’ll feel some sadness if it comes down to a single winner leaving two drivers who’ve more than earned a championship this year missing out.
May the best driver with the calmest head 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.