Juan Pablo Montoya made a McLaren claim in Qatar that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri won’t agree with

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Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will be bitterly disappointed after the Qatar Grand Prix, following McLaren’s costly strategy call.

Norris could have become an F1 champion for the first time if he had claimed victory at the Qatar Grand Prix. However, the Brit was outclassed by teammate Oscar Piastri all weekend.

The Australian claimed the Sprint pole and won the race before taking pole position for Sunday’s Grand Prix. Piastri was searching for a much-needed win, while Norris was looking to wrap up the championship – neither of these outcomes came to fruition.

Piastri had a fantastic start and looked like he would control the race without challenge. But on lap seven, Nico Hulkenberg brought out the safety car after his collision with Pierre Gasly, creating chaos in the pit lane.

The Qatar GP was a mandatory two-stop race, with the rest of the field, bar three cars, coming in to take a cheap stop. Those that did not were Esteban Ocon and, costly, the McLarens.

When Norris and Piastri eventually pitted, they were behind Max Verstappen, who went on to claim victory. McLaren did not expect the entire field to pit under the safety car, which ultimately cost them victory, but Juan Pablo Montoya sees a rather bizarre positive from the situation.

Juan Pablo Montoya says McLaren’s ‘rough’ strategy at the Qatar Grand Prix was a ‘good thing’ ahead of Abu Dhabi

The mood around McLaren was understandably one of disappointment and anger. Piastri looked ‘broken’ after the race as an almost certain win was taken from him by circumstances out of his control.

Norris also lost the chance to seal the title through McLaren’s strategy. But despite the blunder, Montoya says it was a ‘good thing’, as it is a ‘wake-up call’ for the team ahead of the season finale.

He said via F1 TV: “I think actually having this rough of a weekend for McLaren, it’s a good thing. It’s a big wake-up call, it’s a good: ‘Oh my god, we need to not be conservative, we need to execute’.

“I think all the drivers are p—– off. Lando knows he had a rough weekend, from the first practice he struggled. He was sideways, he just was never comfortable here.

“And I think going into Abu Dhabi, I think it’s going to be a very good track for McLaren again. And honestly, Max is going to give it the best, but the big question mark, if the Red Bull is better, when does McLaren going to go to Oscar and go: ‘Hey we need to we need to work here together.”

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

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will not agree with Juan Pablo Montoya’s Qatar claim at all

Montoya’s claim that McLaren’s blunder is a ‘good thing’ ahead of Abu Dhabi is wide of the mark, to say the least. While it is a wake-up call for the team, which they have admitted, with Andrea Stella saying McLaren need to ‘elevate their game’, this is not good news for the championship.

Norris was 22 points clear before the Qatar GP. Victory would have sealed the deal for the Brit, but his P4 in the race has now brought Verstappen properly into the frame, sitting 12 points adrift heading into Abu Dhabi.

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For Piastri, his title chances are slimmer than ever, as he sits 16 points behind his teammate. He needs to win in Abu Dhabi, and Norris to finish outside the top five, for him to be crowned champion.

Verstappen winning in Qatar at the expense of McLaren’s strategy error is in no way good for the team. If anything, it has derailed them completely, as they have allowed their biggest rival the chance to win the championship.

A hard reset is required, as Montoya notes. But losing points to Verstappen puts more pressure on Norris and Piastri to win the title for McLaren, which should have been a procession, given they have collectively scored 800 points this season.