F1 fans have one message for McLaren after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri face strategy misery

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McLaren have plenty of questions to answer in the next seven days as the championship battle rolls on to Abu Dhabi after a strategy error that could cost both of their drivers a first Formula 1 title.

Oscar Piastri dominated the Qatar Grand Prix weekend, winning the Sprint Race and taking pole position.

He then led McLaren teammate Lando Norris into the first corner, who was also caught out by Max Verstappen once again.

However, the safety car being brought out on lap seven after Pierre Gasly and Nico Hulkenberg collided coming out of turn one ended up being the race-defining incident.

Piastri led Norris past the pit lane opening, only to see 17 cars dive to their right to change their tyres to take what on paper looked like the most efficient strategy.

The Australian managed to recover to second, but now sits third in the drivers’ championship behind Verstappen and Norris, who benefited from a late Andrea Kimi Antonelli mistake to finish fourth.

This has left McLaren fans stunned, and after the same question about the team’s decision-making.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend

McLaren fans stunned as Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris fall victim to Qatar Grand Prix strategy error

Andrea Stella and Zak Brown weren’t happy at the chequered flag and quickly returned to the McLaren garage.

Piastri was also left ‘speechless’ after the race, and now knows he needs an extraordinary set of events to become world champion, while it’s more straightforward for Norris, who knows that one last victory earns him the title.

Plenty of fans reacted to McLaren’s blunder, with one stating: ‘Looks like the wrong strategy today’

Another fan said: ‘You have thrown this race away with that strategy. Two in a row.’

One comment read: ‘This is Alonso 2010 frustration again,’ while another supporter said: ‘We gave the race to Max.’

‘Stupidest strategy decision in the sport’s history…’ suggested one comment, and another read: ‘Ruining races for the sake of equality, you’re a joke of a team and that’s coming from a Lando fan.’

‘Hard tyres?! That’s a joke,’ stated one comment after Piastri’s final stop, with one fan summing up the situation nicely: ‘McLaren so focused on being “fair” to both drivers that they would rather keep both out and most likely ruin their races and let Max win than just pitting one and keeping them in the race.’

Finally, one fan made a claim that might not be true, but is easy to believe: ‘McLaren really want Max to win this. I am still baffled. At least split the strategy.’

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration

Lando Norris claims Red Bull did ‘a better job’ as championship fight goes to Abu Dhabi

If Norris can add an 18th podium to his tally at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, then it doesn’t matter what Verstappen and Piastri do; he will be world champion.

However, Abu Dhabi has produced its fair share of dramatic conclusions in the past, and typically, Verstappen comes out on top.

For the first time since 2010, three drivers go into the final race of the season in contention to win the championship

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Speaking about the strategy after the race, Norris said: “It’s tough. We just have to have faith in the team making the right decision.

“It was us that took a gamble in a way. And we lost it, Oscar lost the win, and I lost P2. Not our finest day, but that is life.

“[Red Bull] did a better job as a team; they made the right call.

“You can’t get them all right. We just need to do a better job, I’ll do my job, and we’ll be fine.”