The Formula 1 world championship will be decided in a dramatic season finale in Abu Dhabi, but for the McLaren team, the situation is one of immense frustration. Despite having what has been the superior car for much of the season and a stronger driver pairing, the title remains agonisingly out of reach due to a series of costly errors.
A Season of Missed Opportunities
McLaren wrapped up the constructors' championship weeks ago, a testament to their car's pace. However, the drivers' title has slipped through their fingers on recent weekends. First, a disqualification in Las Vegas stripped Lando Norris of 18 points and Oscar Piastri of 12. Then, a strategic misjudgement under a safety car in Qatar turned a likely victory for Piastri into second place, and a potential podium for Norris into a fortunate fourth.
The message from the team is now unequivocal: No. More. Mistakes. This directive applies most pressingly to qualifying, where Norris has occasionally flirted with disaster. In Qatar, he left it late to escape Q1, and in Baku, Piastri crashed in Q3 while Norris failed to capitalise, setting a slower time than his own Q1 lap—a time that would have secured him a front-row start.
The Abu Dhabi Equation
Norris arrives at the Yas Marina Circuit with a narrow lead. The standings are finely poised:
- 1. Lando Norris: 408pts
- 2. Max Verstappen: 396pts
- 3. Oscar Piastri: 392pts
The mathematics is clear for the British driver. A third-place finish, which yields 15 points, would take his total to 423. Even if Verstappen wins the race (25 points), he could only reach 421, handing Norris his first world title. The scenario becomes more complex if teammate Piastri wins, but a fifth-place finish for Norris would still be sufficient in that case.
All Eyes on Qualifying
The pressure begins immediately with qualifying, set to start at 2pm GMT (6pm local time). Norris took pole and victory here last year, and a repeat of that dominant performance would put him in the perfect position to control his destiny on Sunday. For McLaren, the objective is simple: execute a flawless weekend. For Verstappen and Red Bull, the only goal is victory and hope for a stumble from their rivals. The stage is set for a titanic conclusion to the F1 season.
