McLaren were left to rue another weekend where they could have closed out the 2025 driver’s world championship. After a double disqualification in Las Vegas and a major strategy blunder in Qatar, the F1 world championship will go down to the wire in Abu Dhabi.
In the aftermath, paddock pundits called the McLaren strategy error one of the most baffling of the modern era. The papaya-coloured team was the only one not to pit under the lap-7 safety car. It was a decision that detonated Oscar Piastri’s dominant weekend. And handed Max Verstappen and Red Bull another lifeline for a fifth consecutive world championship.
MCLAREN STRATEGY BLUNDER
Sky Italia’s Carlo Vanzini didn’t hold back. Reporting that if McLaren manages to lose the 2025 driver’s world championship – having had a 104-point lead – it would be the ‘biggest defeat in F1 history.’ That’s not vitriol but simple fact. No championship has ever been lost from such a commanding lead.
Even Dr Helmut Marko mocked the much-debated McLaren papaya rules. “I’m not familiar with all this sort of equal treatment. We certainly would have brought in at least one of our drivers during the safety car,” said the Austrian.
Ex-F1 driver Ralf Schumacher was equally scathing. “You don’t need to be a doctor to realise you need to pit. There are simply too many errors with a superior car. McLaren is overthinking it. Whoever is behind the strategy, it’s about time they looked for a better solution,” Schumacher said.
FAIRNESS NOT A DECIDING FACTOR
Moreover, McLaren insists fairness was a factor, but not the deciding one on Sunday night. “Everyone is saying it, but that has nothing to do with it,” insisted Lando Norris after the race. Team boss Andrea Stella admitted equality was part of the discussion. “That was part of the consideration. But it wasn’t the main reason. We just made a mistake,” the Italian said.
Norris is now just 12 points ahead of Verstappen. With Piastri another four behind, trailing his teammate by 16. However, the big question is whether Norris becomes the clear number 1 for the Abu Dhabi finale. Stella, though, ruled out team orders. “We must respect Oscar’s chance of winning and let the drivers race,” said Stella.
MCLAREN SCARED TO TAKE RISKS
Having executed their strategy perfectly, Red Bull sent chief strategist Hannah Schmitz to the podium to collect the trophy. “McLaren are in a very difficult position and want to treat both drivers the same. Therefore, we were in the position to benefit from this,” Schmitz said.
Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies said there was only one law when fighting Verstappen. “When you’re up against Max, you know he doesn’t make mistakes. That increases the pressure. Our team isn’t afraid to take risks. And that has a psychological effect,” said Mekies.
Spare a thought for Oscar Piastri who dominated all weekend, ending a mysterious performance slump. “Speechless … I don’t have any words,” an incredulous Piastri said on the radio after the chequered flag. – with GMM
But what do you think? Can Max overturn the 12-point deficit and win the championship? Will Lando hang on? Or will Oscar surprise everyone this weekend? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below …
