this post was submitted on 30 Nov 2025
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ROUND 23:Β πΆπ¦ Qatar
FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS QATAR GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit stats
- Circuit name: Lusail International Circuit
- First Grand Prix: 2021
- Number of laps: 57
- Circuit Length: 5.419 km
- Race Distance: 308.611 km
- Lap record: 1:22.384 Lando Norris (2024)
- 2024 winner: Max Verstappen
Track Map
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This just solidifies my belief that Mclaren doesn't have two number 1 drivers, they have two number 2 drivers. They could've had the WDC in the bag by now and instead it gets down to the last race. It's still Norris's championship to lose but if he hadn't passed Antonelli then Max winning the WDC would've been a near guarantee. It shouldn't have been this close to begin with, but because McLaren refuses to have a number 1 driver we're going to the last race with only a small advantage for Norris to win. If I was Oscar Piastri I would be looking at what other teams can offer because Mclaren is only cares about the WCC. He deserves better.
The rest of the race kinda meh IMO. I don't know how Sainz got to P3 but definitely a good job.
Yeah I kind of agree. Norris should have eaten antonelli and sainz even today. He also bottled the start (again).
The problem is more that they make silly unforced errors. Like today, where they made a completely weird strategy call for both or last race, where they had more porpoising than they expected and got DQed. There were more of these errors during the season, albeit not often this consequential. They could have gone into the last few races just fighting it out amongst themselves, but instead they've let a third one get in between them.
This would be even more true, if McL had decided to back Lando at the beginning of the season. It is precisely the equal opportunity in the most competitive car, that would keep him there (rule changes for 2026 notwithstanding). So the argument is exactly the opposite.
My point is that Mclaren could've decided midway through the season that one driver has more points and more wins and then backed him. Instead they decided to give both drivers an "equal" chance and in doing so let Verstappen stay as a legitimate contender for the championship. By trying to treat both drivers as the number 1 driver they've ended up treating both drivers as number 2 drivers. In that sense IMO it doesn't even matter if Mclaren had decided to back Norris from the start, Piastri would've been treated as a number 2 driver either way. That's why if I was Piastri I would be looking elsewhere because you can't trust Mclaren to have your back for the WDC. The only reason to stick with Mclaren is because they had a dominant car this year, but if next year their car isn't as dominant as this year then what's the point of sticking with them for 2027? You don't get the clearly fastest car and you don't get the full support of the team. One of the reasons Verstappen is in contention is because the team has his back completely. The team would move mountains if it meant that Max would win. Much like Verstappen Piastri probably could achieve more with a weaker car but with a team that 100% has his back.