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The 2025 Qatar Grand Prix has set us up for a brilliant conclusion to the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Going into the weekend, a 24 point difference separated Lando Norris from his two competitors, Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen. But after Sunday, it still remains anyone’s game, as McLaren massively fumbled a strategic call, and Red Bull held an incredible pace.
A collision between the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg was the turning point in the race. Crucially, this incident triggered a safety car on lap eight of the race. With the Qatar Grand Prix having 57 laps in total, and a 25-lap limit on every tire set, this was the ideal time to come in for a cheaper pit stop.
While Verstappen and most other drivers peeled into the pits for new sets of tires all around, the two McLarens were the only ones that chose to stay out. And in the end, having to complete an extra pit stop during the race itself put both Piastri and Norris on the back foot.
In the end, Piastri finished in P2, while Norris had to manage his way to P4, ending just off the podium. Verstappen took the top spot of the podium, cementing a critical result on the penultimate race of the year.
“This was an incredible race for us. We made the right call there as a team to box under that safety car,” said Verstappen after the race. “I think it was a very strong race on a weekend where I think it was a little bit tough. But we still won the race, and that was the most important.”
The timing of the pit stops was a crucial call here, with Verstappen calling it “an interesting move” from the McLarens to not capitalize on the safety car opportunity.
Piastri, who had been on top of the timesheet all weekend, was clearly likewise disappointed with his result despite out-scoring his teammate. “Clearly we didn't get it right tonight. I drove the best race that I could as fast as I could,and there was nothing left out then. I tried my best, but uh, I wasn't to be tonight, unfortunately.”
As things stand, while Norris remains in the lead for the Championship, there is only a 12-point buffer between him Verstappen, who is now in second, as a 15-point buffer between Norris and Piastri. With those margins, it is anyone’s game in Abu Dhabi, as we get ready for an exciting season finale.
Cover image via Red Bull Content Pool
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