Max Verstappen reacts to McLaren blunder ahead of F1 title decider in Abu Dhabi

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Max Verstappen secured victory at the Qatar Grand Prix on 30 November, capitalising on McLaren’s strategic error during a safety car period. Verstappen, starting third, finished ahead of Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz, while Lando Norris dropped to fourth. The result trimmed Norris’ championship lead to just 12 points, setting up a tense finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Source: Original report

Max Verstappen has responded to McLaren’s significant error during the Qatar Grand Prix, which unfolded on Sunday, impacting the formula 1 title race. The decision to keep Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri out on track during a safety car incident on lap seven led to a costly outcome for the McLaren team.

Verstappen ultimately won the race, with Oscar Piastri finishing second and Lando Norris dropping from second to fourth place. This result has narrowed Norris’ lead in the championship to just 12 points ahead of the final race in Abu Dhabi.

Verstappen Secures Victory in Qatar

Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull Racing, expressed surprise at McLaren’s decision, stating, “I was like, that’s an interesting move! I knew we had a gap but you still need to keep the tyres alive.” Verstappen issued a warning about strong tyre wear on the circuit but noted that his team made the correct decision to pit during the safety car. As a result, he has closed the gap to Norris with just one race remaining.

As the championship stands, Lando Norris leads with 408 points, followed by Verstappen with 396 points and Oscar Piastri with 392 points. The title will be decided at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 7, where Norris aims to become the first British champion since Lewis Hamilton.

Norris Acknowledges Mistake Post-Race

Following his fourth-place finish, Norris reflected on the team’s strategy, admitting, “It’s tough. We just have to have faith in the team in making the right decision.” He acknowledged that their decision not to pit early was a gamble that did not pay off, impacting both himself and Piastri’s results.

Norris confirmed that the team had previously been successful but accepted the disappointment of their performance in Qatar. “Now it’s the wrong decision and we shouldn’t have done it,” he stated.

Stella on McLaren’s Pit Strategy

Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team principal, described the outcome as “disappointing,” emphasising the potential they had to win the race. He explained that their choice not to pit was based on the expectation that other teams would not take the same approach.

Stella clarified, “It was a decision not to pit. In fairness, we didn’t expect everyone else to pit.” However, he acknowledged that their failure to take advantage of the pit stop ultimately led to a poor result.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be crucial as the F1 championship comes down to the wire.