Qatar Grand Prix 2025

Qatar, McLaren’s Mystery, and the Championship Nobody Seems to Want

Lando Norris may win a world championship next week.

And if he does, Max Verstappen will haunt his sleep for the rest of his career.

But here’s the part nobody wants to say out loud: I’m starting to believe McLaren would rather Lando lose the title than Oscar Piastri win it.

Yes, that sounds insane.

But watch the race again.

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Qatar: Not Great, But Potentially Historic

Race 23 in Qatar wasn’t a classic.

It was compelling.

Because eight races ago, Max Verstappen was 100 points behind Oscar Piastri. The championship looked over. McLaren had the fastest car, the Constructors’ was essentially secured, and it was just a matter of which papaya driver would take the crown.

Now?

Lando Norris leads on 408.

Max Verstappen sits at 396.

Oscar Piastri lingers at 392.

Three drivers. One race left in Abu Dhabi.

McLaren has nearly double the points of Red Bull in the Constructors’.

And yet the Drivers’ Championship might slip away.

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The McLaren Question Nobody Can Answer

What exactly is McLaren doing?

Oscar produces a 1.8-second pit stop — a stop so fast it barely looks humanly possible — in the fastest car on the grid.

Still doesn’t win.

There have been strategy hesitations. Indecisions. Moments where you expect ruthless clarity and instead get corporate politeness.

This isn’t racing.

Think back to Hamilton vs. Rosberg.

Hamilton vs. Vettel.

Hamilton vs. Verstappen.

There was tension. Friction. Edge.

Now we have two teammates smiling and congratulating each other while a title hangs in the balance.

That’s not Formula One.

If you see a gap, you go for it.

Not: “He was a bit better today, so I’ll let him through.”

Championships are not awarded for being pleasant.

They are taken.

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The Conspiracy Theory (That Isn’t That Crazy)

Oscar Piastri led this championship earlier in the season.

Then for a stretch, he looked like he forgot how to drive.

McLaren’s car gets scrutinized. A bit of technical gray area exposed. Suddenly performance shifts. Momentum swings.

Then in Qatar, the margins get tight again.

If Abu Dhabi ends with Max winning and Lando just missing out, it won’t just be a sporting failure.

It will feel engineered.

I’m joking — mostly — but if I’m Oscar and I’m told to step aside so Lando can secure the title, I’m asking serious questions.

Because it increasingly feels like Lando is the corporate face. The brand ambassador. The marketable one.

And Oscar?

The expendable equal.

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Meanwhile: Max Is Doing Max Things

Red Bull has 426 points.

McLaren has 800.

And yet Verstappen is still in this fight.

That stat alone should end any debate about his ability.

He has 93% of Red Bull’s points.

He’s dragging a car that isn’t the fastest into a title decider.

If he steals this championship, it will be one of the most absurd achievements in modern F1.

And no, I don’t buy his “I don’t care about seven titles” routine. Drivers don’t think that way. Champions certainly don’t.

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Ferrari: A Brand in Denial?

Carlos Sainz just stood on the podium in a Williams.

Lewis Hamilton, who replaced him at Ferrari, has zero podiums.

Zero.

It’s almost unthinkable.

Ferrari claims they pivoted early to 2026 development because they knew they couldn’t catch McLaren.

That might make sense in a corporate boardroom.

But imagine telling hundreds of engineers, mechanics, and staff flying around the world: “We’re done competing this year.”

That’s not racing.

That’s surrender.

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Red Bull’s Second Seat and the Yuki Question

Yuki Tsunoda has one race left to prove he deserves a future in the Red Bull ecosystem.

It feels unlikely.

Isack Hadjar looks poised for promotion. Liam Lawson likely keeps a Racing Bulls seat.

Yuki? Probably out.

It’s harsh.

But F1 is harsh.

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Aston Martin’s Gamble

Aston Martin naming Adrian Newey as team principal is fascinating — and confusing.

Newey is arguably the greatest technical mind in F1 history.

Team principal?

That’s a different job.

It’s like asking Michael Jordan to coach instead of score.

Maybe it works.

But it’s a risk.

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Across the Line: Abu Dhabi Picks

After 23 races:

Patrick: 77 points

Brian: 70 points

One race left.

Patrick’s picks:

1. Lando Norris

2. George Russell

3. Kimi Antonelli

4. Fernando Alonso

5. Carlos Sainz

Brian’s picks:

1. Max Verstappen

2. Oscar Piastri

3. Charles Leclerc

4. Nico Hülkenberg

5. Oliver Bearman

If Lando wins, Patrick likely wins the season prediction title too.

If Max wins?

All chaos is justified.

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A Wild Idea

I watched NASCAR’s playoff format recently — a bizarre system where the season effectively resets late and chaos reigns.

It’s absurd.

It’s entertaining.

Imagine F1 trying it once.

Twenty races of normal scoring.

Then a four-race sprint reset for the top ten drivers.

Nobody would like it.

Everyone would watch it.

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Final Thought

We head to Abu Dhabi with:

• Three drivers in contention

• The fastest car on the grid

• A team that can’t decide how ruthless it wants to be

• And Max Verstappen lurking

If McLaren loses this championship, it won’t be because they lacked pace.

It will be because they lacked conviction.

And that would be the most modern Formula One ending possible.