Lando Norris
McLaren
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Williams
Racing Bulls
Aston Martin
Haas
Alpine
Max Verstappen almost could never have dreamed of being in the situation he is currently in as little as one week ago.
After the Las Vegas Grand Prix, he was 42 points behind Lando Norris in the drivers’ championship fight, but following a disqualification and another strong performance, that gap is 12 heading to Abu Dhabi.
Somehow, the four-time champion and Red Bull have clawed back a 104-point deficit, making it manageable at the decider. The permutations are now clear.
Verstappen knows he must win and make sure that Norris finishes off the podium to guarantee a fifth consecutive title.
Who has been your Qatar Grand Prix Driver of the Day?
A botched Qatar Grand Prix strategy provoked Verstappen to call McLaren’s approach ‘interesting’, as they threw away any shot they had at victory.
Even McLaren fans were left stunned at the decision, as Oscar Piastri walked away from the weekend without victory in Sunday’s race, despite being the fastest man on track.
READ MORE: Andrea Stella shares how McLaren got Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s strategies so wrong in Qatar
Red Bull want strong Mercedes result ‘for the first time’ in Max Verstappen’s 2025 F1 title decider
McLaren will not use team orders in Abu Dhabi, which is an incredibly bold move and could leave them vulnerable to an attack from Verstappen.
Failing to win this year, for them, would be a catastrophic failure. They simply cannot afford a scenario where they do not take home two championships this season.
Nobody knows what will happen at the start of the 2026 F1 regulations, and they might be in the position they’re currently in for some time. It’s why it’s important to take advantage now, and it has been all year.
Who is your pick for the 2025 champion after the Qatar Grand Prix?
For their rivals, Red Bull have been in a very free-flowing position for some time. Nobody expected them to find themselves in this position, but it’s better to have a shot than not at all.
This has led Red Bull to be campaigning ‘for the first time’ for Mercedes, with whom they have shared a fierce rivalry, to score a strong result in Abu Dhabi.
De Telegraaf reports that an insider said: “This is the first time in my life I’m praying for Mercedes to finish second and third.”
Why Max Verstappen’s 2025 F1 comeback would be the greatest of all time
If Verstappen manages to recover from a 49-point deficit in three races, as well as 104 points since the summer break, he’ll have undoubtedly achieved the most improbable recovery of all time.
In fact, right now, he might be ruing a silly decision to drive into the side of George Russell in Spain, or a DNF in Austria after being taken out by Kimi Antonelli.
At least with the former, it was well within his control, and it’s a lesson he will have learned. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix could be the most exciting race in four years.
Verstappen has eliminated his only ‘weakness’, and now it’s time for him to throw everything at a situation where he has nothing to lose. He has proven time and again that’s when he’s most dangerous.
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