Max Verstappen Secures Impressive Victory, McLaren’s Strategy Fails!

The 2025 Qatar Grand Prix was marked by decisive results. The main focus was on Max Verstappen’s impressive performance and McLaren’s strategic mistakes.

Max Verstappen claimed his seventh win of the season, keeping his championship hopes alive until the final race in Abu Dhabi. McLaren driver Lando Norris finished only fourth, while his teammate Oscar Piastri took second place, missing the opportunity to secure the title before the last race of the season.

In the Sprint race, Verstappen finished fourth and needed to reduce the 25-point gap to Norris before the main race. Immediately after the start, he moved from third place to the first corner, beginning his pursuit of Piastri.

During the Safety Car period, Red Bull called Verstappen in for a pit stop, and after his second stop, he took the lead, leaving the McLaren drivers behind. Verstappen said after the race:
 "This race was incredible for us. Calling for a pit stop during the Safety Car was the right decision. I’m very happy with the win and staying in the championship fight."

The high-speed corners in Qatar allowed McLaren to start in the front rows. However, the decision not to pit during the Safety Car was labeled a “wrong decision” by team CEO Zak Brown.

After the pit stops, Piastri finished second, Verstappen was 15 seconds ahead, and Norris lost pace compared to his teammate, finishing fourth. As a result, in Abu Dhabi, Norris leads by 12 points, with Piastri 4 points behind.

Williams delivered a strong performance in Qatar after a challenging season. Carlos Sainz finished third, securing his second podium of the season. He scored points in the Sprint race and overtook the McLaren drivers in the main race to reach the podium.
 "This week started as the toughest of the season, but we leave with a podium," Sainz said.

Ferrari failed to recover after their Las Vegas disappointment. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton scored no points in both the Sprint and main races. Hamilton may end the season without a podium, and Ferrari faced tough results in Qatar.

With these results, the Drivers’ Championship is still undecided. Lando Norris must outperform Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi to secure the title. The 2025 Qatar Grand Prix was one of the most dramatic races of the season.