Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya views McLaren’s strategic error at the Qatar Grand Prix as a crucial wake-up call just before the title-deciding race this weekend. Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri are still in the running for the championship heading into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Norris leads Verstappen by 12 points, meaning a podium finish for Verstappen would secure him the title. Piastri must win the race and finish ahead of both Norris and Verstappen to claim the 2025 world championship. McLaren’s strategic mistake in Qatar has made their challenge much harder.
During the safety car on lap seven, McLaren chose to keep both drivers on the track, which gave track position but cost around 26 seconds, as Verstappen benefited from pitting under the same safety car period. Due to Pirelli’s rules limiting tire use to a maximum of 25 laps, McLaren couldn’t switch to a one-stop strategy.
Montoya describes the weekend as tough but feels McLaren shouldn’t play it safe going forward. He sees the setback as a positive wake-up call, saying it shows they can’t afford to be conservative. Montoya also noted Norris struggled throughout the Qatar weekend but believes Abu Dhabi will be better for McLaren.
He added that while Verstappen will push hard, the key question is if Red Bull is stronger and when McLaren will encourage Piastri to collaborate strategically.
Despite setbacks, Jolyon Palmer still sees Norris as the main favorite for the title. Norris and Piastri were disqualified in Las Vegas due to excessive board wear, which, had it not happened, would have potentially secured Norris the championship in Qatar. Palmer advises Norris to clear his mind before the final race, emphasizing that Norris still has the best car and the mental reset he needs to win.
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Fan Take: This dramatic shake-up in the title fight is exactly what racing fans live for—unpredictability and high stakes! The strategic battles and mental resilience on display will not only make Abu Dhabi thrilling but could also signal a more intense and competitive era in F1.
