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Norris masters wet Las Vegas to claim pole ahead of Verstappen and Sainz.
Lando Norris mastered a treacherous qualifying session in Las Vegas to claim his third pole position in a row.
22nd November 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
The McLaren driver captured pole position by three tenths of a second from Max Verstappen with a rapid final lap on a soaked track. Carlos Sainz Jnr took third place for Williams ahead of George Russell but both are under investigation. The stewards are looking into whether Sainz rejoined the track unsafely in Q1 and Mercedes failed to submit its set-up sheets in time for both its cars.
‘Treacherous qualifying session in Las Vegas’;
https://www.racefans.net/2025/11/22/...pen-and-sainz/
2025 F1 Las Vegas GP – Qualifying Results
Norris beats Verstappen to Las Vegas pole as Sainz shocks with P3
22 November 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport
F1 Las Vegas GP 2025 Qualifying results
Check out the full Las Vegas GP 2025 Qualifying results from Nevada below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:47.934
2 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.323
3 Carlos Sainz Williams +0.362
4 George Russell Mercedes +0.869
5 Oscar Piastri McLaren +1.027
6 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls +1.128
7 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +1.532
8 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +1.620
9 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +1.938
10 Pierre Gasly Alpine +3.606
‘Qualifying Results’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/202...fying-results/
Norris and Verstappen brawl incoming after front row lockout in Vegas GP
22 Nov 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com
Lando Norris got pole position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix ahead of Max Verstappen in P2 and Carlos Sainz in P3.
Despite Verstappen and Russell showing pace earlier on, Norris and Piastri dominated the session as the circuit dried up. The British McLaren driver put in a lap ove five tenths quicker than Piastri and more than eight tenths faster than Verstappen in P3. Despite Sainz' late surge to the top, the Dutch driver retook the the lead, albeit briefly.
‘Front row lockout’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/norri...ut-in-vegas-gp
Lewis Hamilton last at Las Vegas GP as Ferrari nightmare continues
Lewis Hamilton will start last at the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
22 Nov 2025
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net
Lewis Hamilton has qualified last in a wet and wild qualifying session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion suffered a shock Q1 elimination in the wet in Las Vegas and ended up slowest of all in 20th. Hamilton was nearly three seconds slower than Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who safely progressed into the next part of qualifying.
There appeared to be some miscommunication as Hamilton looked to have aborted his final flying lap, having only just made the line in time. "Are we safe?" Hamilton asked, to which race engineer Riccardo Adami replied: "Keep pushing." Hamilton said "I got the light..." before Adami came back "No, push!".
Having been eliminated, Hamilton reported he "couldn't get the tyres to work". Hamilton has endured a torrid maiden campaign with Ferrari, branding his first season in red as a "nightmare" after retiring from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix last time out. It marks the first time in Hamilton's F1 career that he has qualified last on pure pace.
‘Ferrari nightmare continues’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/108721...mare-continues
Vegas Shock: Stewards Put Sainz’s P3 Under Threat
November 22, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com
Las Vegas stewards probe puts Sainz’s hard won P3 under threat after near miss with Stroll. Carlos Sainz’s sharp, rain soaked qualifying lap around the Strip may not hold up under the floodlights for long. The Williams driver, who stuck his FW47 third on the grid for Sunday’s Las Vegas Grand Prix behind Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, has been summoned to the stewards over an alleged unsafe rejoin during Q1 after a close call with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.
The flashpoint came at Turn 5, the tight 90 degree right hander that caught out a handful of drivers in treacherous conditions. Sainz overshot and ducked down the escape road, then rejoined as Stroll arrived on the scene. The two came uncomfortably close to trading carbon, and that’s all it takes to trigger an investigation these days. Both drivers have been called to see the stewards at 21:25 local time.
It’s a gut punch moment for Sainz, whose late season form has been one of the year’s genuine bright spots. Since joining Williams, he’s helped drag the team back onto the podium for the first time since 2021 with a third place in Baku, then matched the result in the sprint at the United States Grand Prix. The Vegas lap — precise, patient, ruthless in the wet — looked like another well timed statement from a driver who’s rebuilt momentum in deep water. Whether he keeps that P3 is now in the hands of the officials…
‘It’s a gut punch moment for Sainz’;
https://fastestlap.com/news/vegas-sh...-under-threat/
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Las Vegas GP: Max Verstappen wins as Lando Norris closes in on world title with second, Oscar Piastri finishes fourth.
Norris and Oscar Piastri under investigation for alleged excessive skid block wear and could be disqualified.
23 Nov 2025
Nigel Chiu
Sky Sports
Max Verstappen dominated the Las Vegas Grand Prix as Lando Norris fought back to finish second - but the McLaren driver and team-mate Oscar Piastri could be disqualified for excessive skid block wear.
Two hours after the chequered flag, the FIA announced both McLarens were under investigation for too much plank wear, a ruling which would see them thrown out of the race - as happened with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the Chinese Grand Prix earlier this year.
In the race pole-sitter Norris lost out to Verstappen and George Russell in a dramatic start but, as it stands, increased his advantage in the Drivers' Championship to 30 points over Piastri, who was fourth, and 42 points to Verstappen.
'Investigation for alleged excessive skid block wear ';
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...inishes-fourth
Las Vegas GP: Race Results
Full results from the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix where Max Verstappen took his sixth victory of 2025.
23 Nov 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe
Pos. No. Driver Team Laps Time / Retired Pts.
1 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 50 1:21:08.429 25
2 4 Lando Norris McLaren 50 +20.741s 18
3 63 George Russell Mercedes 50 +23.546s 15
4 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 50 +27.650s 12
5 12 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 50 +30.488s 10
6 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 50 +30.678s 8
7 55 Carlos Sainz Williams 50 +34.924s 6
8 6 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls 50 +45.257s 4
9 27 Nico Hulkenberg Kick Sauber 50 +51.134s 2
10 44 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 50 +59.369s 1
‘Full results’;
https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-l...-race-results/
Norris and Piastri face exclusion from Vegas GP F1 results
Nov 23, 2025
Scott Mitchell-Malm, Jon Noble
The Race
Formula 1 title rivals and McLaren team-mates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri face disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix after a skid wear problem was recorded during post-race technical inspections. Norris finished second with Piastri fourth in a race won by championship outsider Max Verstappen.
Both have now been referred to the stewards after the measured thickness of the rearmost skid on both McLarens was less than 9mm, the minimum thickness required by the technical regulations. A technical infringement is usually a black-and-white matter so both drivers could be excluded. McLaren was called in to see the stewards at 11.45pm local time.
Standings right now
1 Norris 408
2 Piastri 378 (+30)
3 Verstappen 366 (+42)
Standings if McLarens excluded
1 Norris 390
2 Piastri 366 (+24)
3 Verstappen 366 (+24)
‘Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri face disqualification’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/n...xclusion-risk/
BREAKING: Norris and Piastri facing Las Vegas GP DSQ as FIA launches McLaren investigation
23 Nov 2025
Thomas Maher
planetf1.com
A McLaren representative has been summoned to appear before the stewards in Las Vegas due to an alleged breach of the technical regulations related to plank wear. “The skid wear of car numbers 81 [Piastri] and 04 [Norris] was checked,” read the stewards’ document, quoting technical delegate Jo Bauer.
“The rearmost skid was measured on both cars according to the team’s legality documents submission in accordance with TD039 M, item 1.2 b) I). The measured thickness was less than 9 mm on both cars, which is the minimum thickness required by TR Article 3.5.9 e). I am referring this matter to the stewards for their consideration.”
‘Summoned to appear’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/mclare...-oscar-piastri
Norris and Piastri under threat of disqualification from Las Vegas Grand Prix
23rd November 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
The scrutineers in Las Vegas have confirmed Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s rear skid blocks were worn beneath the legal limit when they were checked after the race. As this would put the car in breach of the technical regulations, both drivers are at risk of being disqualified.
‘Threat of disqualification’;
https://www.racefans.net/2025/11/23/...as-grand-prix/
BREAKING: F1 title race bombshell as BOTH McLarens face DQ from Vegas GP
November 23rd, 2025
Max Laughton from Fox Sports@maxlaughton
Fox Sports (Australia)
F1 championship leader Lando Norris and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri are both facing potential disqualifications from the Las Vegas Grand Prix. In a bombshell moment for the title race, McLaren has been summoned to the stewards following the third-last race of the season, which was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Norris finished second to extend his title lead over fourth-placed Piastri to 30 points, while his lead over Verstappen moved to 42 points. But both drivers’ cars were checked and alleged excessive skidblock wear has been found, similar to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc being DQ’d from the 2023 US Grand Prix.
‘F1 title race bombshell’;
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...73fce430a1db1b
Norris risks losing P2 after Vegas GP with FIA investigation
23 Nov 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com
Lando Norris risks forfeiting his second-place finish at the Las Vegas Grand Prix following the scrutiny of the McLaren driver’s car after the race.
The British driver, who is within touching distance of a maiden Drivers’ Championship, has seen his No. 4 MCL39 come under the crosshairs of the FIA’s Nikolas Tombazis in the garage, who, alongside his team, was conducting a thorough check on the 26-year-old’s car.
While the reason for this check has not yet been officially revealed, it is worth noting that the McLaren driver was forced to lift and coast in the final stages of the Nevada race.
‘McLaren driver was forced to lift and coast’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/breaking-n...ue-in-the-race
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Official: Norris and Piastri disqualified from Las Vegas Grand Prix.
A post-race inspection found the rear skid blocks were worn beneath the legal limit on the two MCL39s.
23rd November 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer stated: “The rearmost skid was measured on both cars according to the team’s legality documents submission” and “the measured thickness was less than 9mm on both cars, which is the minimum thickness required.” After summong the team’s representatives to a hearing, the stewards confirmed both cars had been disqualified.
McLaren’s double disqualification cuts Norris’s lead over both drivers to 24 points. The result is a huge boost for Verstappen, who arrived in Las Vegas 49 points behind Norris. The stewards’ decision has handed more points to several of their rivals. George Russell moves up to second place and is joined on the podium by his team mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
‘Both cars had been disqualified’;
https://www.racefans.net/2025/11/23/...as-grand-prix/
Norris and Piastri disqualified from Las Vegas Grand Prix
23 Nov 2025
Ben Winship
GPblog.com
The McLaren F1 team have been disqualified from the Las Vegas GP due to a technical infringement, the FIA has confirmed.
Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri's cars failed post-race scrutineering after their skid blocks were found to be below the required 9mm minimum thickness level. The disqualification has a significant impact on the world championship as Norris has lost the 18 points he received for his P2 finish, giving race winner Max Verstappen a 25-point swing in the title fight.
Updated championship standings
McLaren's disqualification has blown the championship wide open as Verstappen jumps to within a race win of Norris.
STANDINGS DRIVER POINTS
P1 Lando Norris 390
P2 Oscar Piastri 366
P3 Max Verstappen 366
‘Skid blocks were found to be below the required 9mm minimum thickness level’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/breaking-n...gas-grand-prix
Both McLarens thrown out of Las Vegas GP in huge F1 title twist
McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri disqualified from Las Vegas Grand Prix for technical infringements.
23 Nov 2025
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net
"The rear skids of Car 4 [and Car 81] were measured and found to be below the minimum thickness of 9mm specified under Article 3.5.9 of the Technical Regulations," the stewards said in a statement.”
"The relevant measurements were RHS Front 8.88mm, RHS Rear 8.93mm. The measuring device was a Mitutoyo Micrometre purchased in May 2025, and according to the manufacturer’s specifications, accurate to within 0.001mm.”
"The rear skids were re-measured in the presence of the Stewards and the three McLaren representatives, and those measurements confirmed that the skids did not comply with the regulations. The relevant measurements were even lower than those measured originally by the Technical Delegate.”
‘Huge F1 title twist’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/108733...f1-title-twist
McLaren disqualified from Las Vegas GP
Both McLarens have been disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix for excessive plank wear, throwing the drivers’ championship wide open with two rounds remaining.
23 Nov 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe
The closing stages of the grand prix had already seen moments of concern for Norris, who slowed aggressively in the final laps, losing around 14 seconds to Verstappen in what was widely assumed to be a fuel-saving measure, with radio messages indicating the team was monitoring fuel levels. Norris later hinted at “some issues with the car” but said he did not fully understand the cause.
The Race reported that both McLarens were held longer than usual in parc ferme, with team principal Andrea Stella seen speaking with FIA technical officials. In an earlier statement announcing the investigation, FIA Technical Delegate Jo Bauer confirmed the referral to stewards:
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were referred to the stewards after finishing second and fourth respectively, when post-race checks revealed the rear skids on their cars were worn below the minimum 9mm thickness required by regulations. After deliberating for more than three hours, the stewards confirmed both cars breached the rules and excluded them from the race.
‘Throwing the drivers’ championship wide open with two rounds remaining’;
https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-m...ramifications/
OFFICIAL: Norris and Piastri suffer shock disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix
23 Nov 2025
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
FIA's statement read: "The Stewards heard from the Team Principal, Team Sporting Director and Technical Director of McLaren Formula 1 Team, the FIA Single Seater Director, the FIA Single Seater Technical Director and the FIA Technical Delegate.
"The Team argued that mitigating circumstances existed in that there was additional and unexpected porpoising at this event, limited opportunity to test due to the weather on Day 1, and shortened practice sessions. Further the Team submitted that the degree of the breach was lower than prior breaches of this regulation in 2025.”
"The FIA argued that unfortunately there was no provision in the regulations or in precedent for any penalty other than the usual penalty (i.e. disqualification). The FIA noted that it strongly held the view that the breach was unintentional and that there as not deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations.”
‘Shock disqualification’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/28008
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McLaren DISQUALIFIED in VEGAS F1.
@re1ky: if you get your news from comedy. @Gallalad1: Simply lovely. @TheAniSi: Papaya rules.
Nov 23, 2025
Conor Moore Racing
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been disqualified at the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix by the FIA
@camdav8323: What shenanigans have they been up to Oscar needs to move on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBJeCf3zXGc
Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri REACTION to McLaren Disqualification in Las Vegas
Nov 23, 2025
Behind Grand Prix
BREAKING news from the Las Vegas Grand Prix: both McLaren cars — Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri — have been disqualified from the race. The FIA confirmed that the rear skid block thickness on both cars failed post-race inspection, coming in below the legal minimum.
This shock ruling wipes out McLaren’s double points finish and dramatically reshuffles the championship picture. Norris loses his hard-earned P2 and Piastri also drops out of the classification completely, handing crucial positions — and points — to their rivals.
@Olifantenstaart: Why McLaren took ANY risk with the planks is beyond me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJO32LhuQo8
Lando Norris confirms he knew of McLaren ‘issues’ as during Las Vegas GP as he suffers DSQ
The Brit was struck from the records for excessive plank wear on November 22.
23 November 2025
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport
Lando Norris confirms he knew McLaren had issues during the 2025 Las Vegas GP, as he confirms he had to back off to manage a plank wear issue – only to later suffer a title-damaging DSQ.
Aware something was wrong, Norris confirms he knew McLaren had “issues” with their car at the Las Vegas GP, although it seems nobody expected a DSQ as he suffers a big title set-back.
“I think there was just some issues with the car,” Norris said to media, including Total-Motorsport.com. “The team were telling me on the radio. So, yeah. Just had to back off a bit.”
‘Issues’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/lan...e-suffers-dsq/
Red Bull hails Max Verstappen ‘masterclass’ in F1 Las Vegas GP
23 November 2025
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week
Starting alongside the McLaren driver, the 28-year-old got a better start off the line. But Norris was quick to cover off Verstappen’s advances going into Turn 1. However, as Norris veered off to the left, he missed his braking point and ran deep, allowing the four-time F1 champion to slide down the inside to take the lead.
Mekies hailed the Dutchman’s instincts, crediting his move as the decisive moment of the race. “Well, you know, Lap 1, Turn 1, he just never gets it wrong, no? So that was a typical Max, he nailed it, got a good start, got Lando,” he told media including Motorsport Week. “You guys can judge it better than I do, but he just never gets it wrong, so that’s what it’s then.”
‘Masterclass’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...-vegas-gp-win/
F1 title race explained: How Norris and Piastri's disqualification opens door for Verstappen
Possibility of Abu Dhabi championship decider increases after controversy in Las Vegas
November 23, 2025
Mina Rzouki
The National
The Formula One title battle has been given a thrilling lease of life after the disqualification of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Hours after the race finished, both McLaren cars were kicked out for excessive plank wear, with the skid blocks below the minimum thickness, meaning Norris lost his points for second place and Piastri for his fourth spot.
The implications are significant, with race winner Max Verstappen benefiting the most from this decision. Instead of leading Piastri by 30 points and Verstappen by 42, Norris now leads both rivals by just 24 points going into next weekend's Qatar GP. Verstappen moves up to joint-second with Piastri (the Australian stays ahead on win countback).
Piastri and Verstappen: Both in second place level on 366 points. To stay in the title fight after Qatar, both Piastri and Verstappen must remain within 25 points of Norris. If the gap becomes 26 or more, Norris is champion. Verstappen hugely benefits from the double disqualification. His deficit shrinks from 42 to 24, dragging him back into contention.
‘The Formula One title battle has been given a thrilling lease of life’;
https://www.thenationalnews.com/spor...or-verstappen/
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The McLaren radio messages which show how they tried to manage plank wear.
McLaren’s radio messages during the Las Vegas Grand Prix show how they tried to contain the problem which led to their double disqualification.
23rd Nov 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
It seems that Norris decided his pursuit of Verstappen was futile, knew he had a significant gap over Russell and decided to focus on looking after his plank as much as possible. The fact he was able to do this may explain why his plank was not over-worn to the same extent as Piastri’s, but it was not enough to prevent him joining his team mate in disqualification after the race.
Lap: 42/50 NOR: 1’34.081, PIA: 1’34.641
Joseph: And suggest silver D4 silver D4, the fronts look more robust on this tyre. And reminder, overtake.
Norris: Yep. Let’s just do whatever we got to do, please, so tell me whatever I got to do.
Joseph: Okay, in which case just do more.
Lap: 43/50 NOR: 1’34.271, PIA: 1’34.499
Norris: What do I do with 10? Because sometimes I lift more, it just feels worse.
Joseph: Whatever you do in 10 doesn’t make much difference. It’s more 11 and 12. The next thing you can do is earlier into 17.
Lap: 46/50 NOR: 1’35.534, PIA: 1’34.588
Joseph: And overtake. And happy to try a lift in 10.
Joseph: That’s four laps to go.
Lap: 47/50 NOR: 1’36.128, PIA: 1’34.086
Norris: You’re happy with everything? Need more or what?
Joseph: So Lando still do overtake into 14. We can do an earlier lift into 17, bigger lift into 11. Happy to lose two seconds in the three laps remaining.
Lap: 48/50 NOR: 1’37.702, PIA: 1’34.165
Joseph: Overtake and then that lift.
Underlining how concerned McLaren were about the plank situation, Piastri was even reminded on the final lap to lift off again, past the point at which the team would have been worrying about tyre wear.
The only message to Norris regarding fuel came on the final lap, long after he had begun backing off.
‘The McLaren radio messages’;
https://www.racefans.net/2025/11/23/...ring-the-race/
McLaren disqualification gives Verstappen more than hope: now Max is at his best
23 Nov 2025
Ludo van Denderen
GPblog.com
Publicly, Max Verstappen won’t speak of any mindset other than the one he shared this weekend in Las Vegas: take it race by race and see what that brings in Abu Dhabi. Quietly, though, he’ll be even more motivated in his pursuit of Lando Norris after the disqualification of both McLarens. That’s when he is at his best.
Verstappen thought he needed a small miracle after the Las Vegas Grand Prix winner saw Lando Norris sitting beside him on the couch in the press conference room. The gap to the McLaren driver was enormous—too big, really—to still hope for another title. What the Red Bull Racing driver couldn’t foresee was that, elsewhere in the paddock, the FIA stewards were creating that miracle. The plank under Norris' McLaren was excessively worn, which ultimately resulted in disqualification.
‘Small miracle’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/analysis/m...is-at-his-best
Double DQ—McLaren, Piastri, Norris react to Las Vegas F1 skid wear stuff-up
23 Nov 2025
Peter Maniaty
Sporting News
Undoubtedly the biggest loser of the DQ decision is 2025 drivers championship leader Lando Norris, who has seen his margin over the resurgent Max Verstappen now reduced to just 24 points. “It’s frustrating to lose so many points. As a team, we’re always pushing to find as much performance as we can, and we clearly didn’t get that balance right today,” Norris commented.
McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri was equally as frustrated, acknowledging the razor fine margins between success and failure in Formula One. “Disappointing … given how close the grid is we’re always looking at where we can gain performance and we didn’t get it right this time,” Piastri said.
‘Las Vegas F1 skid wear stuff-up’;
https://www.sportingnews.com/au/form...58d29c09ae5c12
What we know about misjudgement behind shock McLaren double DSQ
Nov 23, 2025
Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race
The disqualification of both McLarens from the Las Vegas Grand Prix was a shock given the way the race ended had left a big implication that only Lando Norris was at risk, and for a very different reason. Whenever Norris or McLaren were asked about the aggressive lift and coast measures Norris had done in the final few laps of the race, the answers were cagey at best.
But the lift-and-coast messages and fuel implications turned out to be a red herring. It seems McLaren’s messages were essentially coded and that Norris was having to lift and coast but not to manage fuel - to try to protect the plank. Norris is even quoted in McLaren’s press release as confirming the end-of-race management was “due to some issues on our car, which have unfortunately resulted in us being disqualified”.
‘But the lift-and-coast messages and fuel implications turned out to be a red herring’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/w...en-double-dsq/
Las Vegas Strips Norris: McLaren DSQs Ignite Title Chaos
Nov 23, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com
Norris stripped of Las Vegas P2 as McLaren double DSQ shakes up title run-in. Under the neon lights of Las Vegas, Lando Norris walked away with nothing but frustration and a slimmer margin in the championship fight. Hours after finishing second to Max Verstappen on Sunday night, both McLarens were thrown out of the results for excessive plank wear — a black and white technical breach with no wiggle room.
The penalty stung. Norris’ runner-up finish would have stretched his lead to 30 points over Oscar Piastri, with Verstappen 42 back and only two rounds left. Instead, the disqualification cuts his advantage to 24 points — now over both Piastri and Verstappen — with the title picture taking on a cooler, sharper edge just when McLaren could least afford it.
“Frustrating,” Norris said, summing up a long night that turned on a few hundredths of a millimetre. “We had to do some managing towards the end of the race and now we know it was due to some issues on our car, which have unfortunately resulted in us being disqualified. It’s frustrating to lose so many points… nothing I can do will change that now. Full focus switches to Qatar.” The FIA’s scrutineering sheet told the tale: Norris’ plank measured 0.07mm and 0.12mm under the required 9mm thickness at its designated points
‘Under the neon lights of Las Vegas, Lando Norris walked away with nothing but frustration…’;
https://fastestlap.com/news/las-vega...e-title-chaos/
What could be behind McLaren's plank wear DSQ shock
Nov 24, 2025
Jon Noble
The Race
One of the intriguing aspects about McLaren’s double disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix for worn planks is that the infringement was at the rear of its Formula 1 car. In a season when rivals have been paying super close attention to where McLaren’s advantage comes from, it’s been widely acknowledged that the MCL39 has a concept that predominantly runs on its front skids.
Sauber’s sporting director Inaki Rueda offered some fascinating insight recently about the benefits that a team can gain from the current cars in being able to run the front of the car low down like McLaren. "I think most cars this year are wearing the rears," he said. "But whichever team has managed to pivot to the front, that means they actually are able to run lower than the rest of us.”
"This is something that is quite clever. Most of the downforce [generated by the floor] comes from where the driver is sitting, and towards the back. So that's where you really want the floor to be close to the ground. So if the main point of wear is back there, then you need to raise the car at that point – and you lose downforce. A lot of design effort is spent on trying to migrate that work to the front, so that you can run it low. But it's not an easy task."
‘Where McLaren’s advantage comes fro’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/w...ear-dsq-shock/
Internet reacts to McLaren disqualification in Las Vegas
23 Nov 2025
Ben Winship
GPblog.com
McLaren's disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix has blown the world championship right open and made shockwaves across the internet. Fans react to McLaren disqualification. As the world championship is blown open, fans now believe a three-way world title fight has truly come alive.
Sensing the drama one person commented: "Are they filming Drive to survive this year by chance?" Another chimed in with "Abu Dhabi will be a movie."
Someone else said: "We are getting a race for the championship now."
Stunned by the development another fan said: "Did not have this on my Bingo card for today!"
The news has helped the Dutchman's fanbase to come alive. "Max could win it now. Oh God. We are dead here when it happens," said one Verstappen fan.
Another excited Verstappen fan typed: "DU DU DU DU MAX VERSTAPPEN!!!! 5TH CHAMPIONSHIP COMING!!!"
The result elevated George Russell to P2 and his teammate Kimi Antonelli to P3, a feat which was not lost on one fan: "1) The championship is wide open, and Max could easily grab it now. 2) Kimi is now P3, meaning he went from P17 to P3."
‘Shockwaves across the internet’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/inter...n-in-las-vegas
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McLaren’s car is now ‘compromised’ for the Qatar Grand Prix after Las Vegas disqualifications.
Former F1 designer Gary Anderson explained how the disqualification would affect the McLaren car at the final two races. They will need to be more ‘cautious’ than usual. (Writing in his column for The Telegraph).
25 Nov 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
McLaren revived Max Verstappen’s world championship hopes with a double disqualification at last weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix. The FIA found excessive skid block wear on both cars. The upshot is that Norris and Piastri are ‘slightly compromised’ at the next two weekends as the team try to avoid ‘one of the worst collapses in F1 history’.
The obvious change is raising their car’s ride height to protect the plank, a measure Ferrari had to take after they were thrown out of the Chinese GP in March. This will cost them downforce and, as a result, lap time. By contrast, Verstappen is bound to be as aggressive as possible. Red Bull think McLaren are vulnerable to pressure due to their inexperience – they haven’t won a championship double in the 21st century.
‘McLaren’s car is now compromised’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/mcl...ualifications/
F1 tech expert claims McLaren left ‘compromised’ after "screw-up"
McLaren's double disqualification at the Las Vegas Grand Prix leaves the team "compromised".
25 Nov 2025
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net
Former Jordan and Jaguar F1 technical director Gary Anderson, wrote in his column for The Telegraph; “It would be bad enough for a midfield team scrapping for a few points, but for a team in McLaren’s position it is far worse… It can only be described as a screw-up that now leaves them vulnerable instead of comfortable.”
“McLaren as a team will also need to be cautious,” he explained. “First, with the plank wear and setting their car up to avoid this (which means losing some lap time), but there are also other risks. “Not under-fuelling the cars too much, for example. This is a way to save lap time by saving weight, but the penalty for not having enough fuel to provide a sample is enormous, as George Russell found out last year in Belgium.”
“They also need to make sure their cooling is sufficient to avoid having to back off when they are in traffic. In other words, they are slightly compromised heading into a crucial two races. It would have been unthinkable not too long ago that a McLaren driver would not win the title, yet they need to really switch on to avoid one of the worst collapses in F1 history.”
"Screw-up";
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/108738...es-after-screw
Verstappen and Red Bull may have triggered McLaren’s Vegas disqualification
24 Nov 2025
Kada Sárközi
Ludo van Denderen
GPblog.com
Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing may have pushed McLaren to set up the cars of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri so aggressively that it ultimately led to illegal plank wear and thus disqualification. It was almost unimaginable that this happened. At a very costly moment in the championship, McLaren made the mistake of apparently setting their drivers’ cars too low. Precisely when Lando Norris could use every point in his title fight to make his dream a reality, they made such a major blunder.
Because yes, it was a mistake, as McLaren framed it after the Las Vegas Grand Prix. In a statement released late in the night in the US, team principal Andrea Stella said what they did was ‘unintentional’ and that there was ‘no deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations.’ What Stella said is undoubtedly true. Still, the fact remains that the plank under Lando Norris’ car was worn down by 0.12 millimeters over the limit, and on Oscar Piastri’s car by no less than 0.26 millimeters beyond what is allowed.
This could only have happened if the cars were set too low to the ground, because eight other F1 cars from rival teams had no excessive wear. The reason a car sits as low as possible is because of the downforce effect. After all, a car generally goes faster the lower it sits to the ground. The follow-up question is: why did McLaren push the absolute limit in terms of ride height? It could well be that the British team considered Red Bull Racing such a serious threat that the Woking-based squad decided to take a gamble. Perhaps knowing that without an extremely low ride height, Verstappen would have easily defeated them anyway. Or was this really a one-off, as McLaren would have us believe?
‘Major blunder’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/analysis/v...squalification
How Verstappen Won Vegas Before Lights Out
November 25, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com
Las Vegas served up neon, nerves and a little needle. An untelevised slice of team radio from the grid has surfaced, catching Lando Norris accusing Max Verstappen of “taking the p*ss” with the gaps on the formation lap — moments before the McLaren swept across to defend and then skated wide at Turn 1, handing the lead to the Red Bull. It was classic pre-start brinkmanship in tricky conditions. With temperatures down and rear tyres reluctant to wake up, race control had told drivers to crank out up to five burnouts at the end of the formation lap.
Verstappen obliged, aggressively, all five of them. Norris managed three, none too wild, because he was busy policing the space ahead and the Red Bull looming behind. “Yeah, he’s taking the p*ss with how big of a gap he’s leaving. It’s way over the allowed allowance,” Norris told McLaren as they rolled to the grid, pushing again: “You can’t do this. It’s 10 car lengths, no?” The wrinkle: that 10-car-length rule applies under the Safety Car. On formation laps, the wording is softer — “kept as tight as possible” — which gives drivers room to, well, interpret.
Verstappen interpreted it like a four-time world champion chasing a title should. He dialled in the tyre temp, launched better, then watched as Norris pinched right to close the door, ended up on the dust and at too sharp an angle, and slid wide. Verstappen was gone. Gianpiero Lambiase, back on the podium with his driver for the first time since Qatar 2023, came over the radio with the sort of pat on the back he saves for big days: “Good job, Max. You kept it calm. Kept your head.”
“Yeah, he’s taking the p*ss with how big of a gap he’s leaving”;
https://fastestlap.com/news/how-vers...re-lights-out/
Why Verstappen ‘laughed’ at McLaren ‘come and get’ him message to Norris
24 Nov 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Between Lando Norris’ first lap aggression and McLaren’s call to “get Max”, Max Verstappen was given all the motivation he needed in Las Vegas – and it didn’t even come from Red Bull.
Norris asked McLaren if they want him to “overtake” Russell. The reply was emphatic: “Overtake, we want to go get Max.” He promptly did so to applause from the McLaren garage. He was, however, five seconds down on Verstappen, who was told by GP: “Lando has been told to come and get you.”
But instead of closing in on Verstappen, Norris dropped time lap after lap. Initially it was a tenth here and there, but at the end of those 15 laps, the gap between Verstappen and Norris was over 20 seconds, as Norris battled a mystery issue with his McLaren.
“Overtake, we want to go get Max”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/why-ma...aren-las-vegas
Mark Hughes: How Verstappen suckered Norris into a race-losing move
Nov 23, 2025
Mark Hughes
The Race
The start – which may or not have been crucial to Verstappen’s victory – was partly about the perfect preparation Verstappen made and Norris getting himself wound up on the approach to the grid about how far behind Max was. As Norris bogged down slightly he moved smartly to the inside to counter the Red Bull’s better acceleration, Verstappen forced to lift slightly. Easing right to open up Turn 1, the Red Bull took the lead as Norris found himself pulled out wide through the turn, having braked too late. Norris’ lost momentum as he rejoined allowed Russell alongside and up to second as they reached Turn 4. That was the most important part of Verstappen’s race.
Whether it was part of Verstappen’s ploy to maximise the time Norris’ tyres were cooling we can’t know. But on such a cold track, good starting temperatures were even more crucial than usual. Drivers were being instructed to do as many as five burn-outs. Norris was so preoccupied with where Verstappen was that he did only three burn outs, none of which were as aggressive as any of Verstappen’s five. Norris’ rear tyres were almost certainly significantly cooler than Verstappen’s as the start lights went out.
Verstappen seemed particularly pleased with his 69th career victory: “Yes, because back in ’23 winning races was like ticking boxes, but now it’s not so easy. Today it was just about seeing how much you could push, especially in the first stint on the more fragile [medium] tyre.” “But the tyres were good today and it’s not something we’ve always been good on, but the car was working pretty well and I didn’t need to take too much out of the tyre.” As for the answer to those other questions regarding fuel and plank wear, Norris was severely constrained in the last few laps with lift and coasting. Radio exchanges between him and engineer Will Joseph suggested excessive fuel consumption. Then the officials took a look at the planks…
‘Norris was so preoccupied with where Verstappen was’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/m...e-losing-move/
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F1 world champion backs Max Verstappen to win title after McLaren disqualifications.
Jacques Villeneuve has backed Max Verstappen to win this year’s F1 world championship after the dramatic events following the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday night.
25 Nov 2025
The Independent
Championship leader Lando Norris had one hand on the trophy after extending his lead to 30 points over Oscar Piastri with a second-place finish in Vegas, with race winner Verstappen 42 points off the Briton.
Yet the shock double disqualification of both McLaren cars for excessive skid plank wear has thrust Verstappen back into the fight. With two rounds to go and 58 points on the table, Verstappen is now level on points with Piastri – a driver he trailed by 104 points at the start of September – and 24 behind Norris.
‘Backed Max Verstappen to win’;
https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/f1-...-b2871994.html
Strip Slip, Plank Flip: Norris’s DSQ Turbocharges Verstappen
November 25, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com
Norris owns Las Vegas start blunder as disqualification turns damage into disaster. Lando Norris didn’t sugarcoat it. “Pretty embarrassing,” he said of his opening move in Las Vegas — a lunge to the inside, on the dustier half of the Strip, that handed Max Verstappen the lead before they’d even settled into Turn 1. He braked late, ran deep, and the Red Bull was gone. That part he could live with. What came next stung far more.
Norris and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri were both thrown out of the results after the flag for excessive plank wear, scrubbing a hard-fought P2 on the road into nothing and turning a bad start into a bruising night. Verstappen, meanwhile, banked another win and tightened the championship chase just when it looked like Norris had room to breathe. The sequence was born on the formation lap. Verstappen loitered, then rattled off a string of burnouts before forming up — five in total to Norris’s three — priming the Red Bull’s rears for a cold desert launch. It was savvy, legal, and it worked.
With better initial bite off the line, Verstappen forced Norris to make a choice into Turn 1: hang it around the grippier outside, or slice to the inside and hope the marbles would hold. Norris chose the latter. Vegas chose violence. “You’ve got to be punchy into Turn 1,” he said afterwards. “I was just a bit too punchy and that cost me, so that’s the way it is sometimes.” Later, to Sky Sports F1, he was harsher: “Pretty embarrassing. I need to learn from Turn 1 and try to do a better job than I’ve been doing recently.”
‘Strip Slip, Plank Flip’;
https://fastestlap.com/news/strip-sl...es-verstappen/
Lando Norris has Max Verstappen on the brain
25 Nov 2025
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
Why did Max Verstappen make such a concerted effort to mark himself as a tough and uncompromising competitor in his earliest days in F1? Taking every single opportunity that presented itself to launch a bold, late-braking move down the inside?
Moving unpredictably on the brakes in defence against the Nico Rosbergs, Sebastian Vettels and Lewis Hamiltons of this world, drawing all three world champions into mistakes? Twitching suddenly in eighth gear on the straight at Spa just as Kimi Raikkonen went in for the kill, leaving him with no option but to back right off or risk eating tree?
Precisely for moments like the start of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. It messes with the minds of other drivers. Gets them thinking. Overthinking. Keeps them guessing. Second guessing. Driving unnaturally to combat whatever it is they think Max might – or might not – be about to do.
‘Lando Norris has Max Verstappen on the brain’;
https://www.planetf1.com/features/la...gas-grand-prix
What Verstappen still needs after McLaren's disastrous assist
Nov 25, 2025
Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race
McLaren's disastrous double disqualification in Las Vegas has brought Max Verstappen closer to the lead of the Formula 1 drivers' championship points than he has been since an opportunistic victory at Imola in May. But does it mean anything with Lando Norris still in control of the championship? After all,
To go from the brink of being eliminated in Vegas, had Norris finished ahead of him, to now having a very real chance of taking the fight all the way to Abu Dhabi is a big shift in control for Verstappen. That's the biggest thing he's gained because for Verstappen it will all be about keeping it alive until the final day: he knows better than anyone how much the championship situation can suddenly swing in your favour in a one-race shootout.
Assistance still needed: What hasn't changed is that Verstappen still needs outside assistance, even though he's just had a big assist already. The extent of the points deficit meant Verstappen needed Norris to suffer two setbacks in the final three races. Getting such a massive swing in one go definitely helps. Verstappen's best chance, obviously, is to win everything that there is left to win. Much easier said than done, of course, and it could still leave Verstappen quite a few points shy.
‘Assistance still needed’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/w...strous-assist/
Lando Norris vows ‘nothing changes’ despite Max Verstappen's title charge
25 Nov 2025
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com
Lando Norris has stated that "nothing changes" in his "mentality" as the penultimate race weekend at the Qatar Grand Prix approaches. "What's done me so well the last few weekends is by going flat, staying out of trouble, staying out of the chaos behind. It’s almost a safer bet in terms of pushing," Norris started by saying during Thursday's press conference in Vegas.
"I think it's not the right mindset to have. I come here this weekend to try and win. I’ll go to Qatar to try and win. I still treat it as if I’m not in a championship – I’m just here to try and win this weekend, and that’s the mentality I’ll have.”
"Of course, when you're on track, you make different decisions depending on risk levels and things like that. But I feel like my judgment of that, generally, is pretty good and pretty accurate. So I’m happy. Nothing changes because of whatever points I’ve got."
‘Nothing changes’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/lando...s-title-charge
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McLaren to be 'Closely monitored' by FIA at Qatar GP after allegations of cheating emerge.
The FIA are set to place McLaren under increased scrutiny at this weekend's Qatar Grand Prix after allegations that the team have been cheating emerged.
26 Nov 2025
Christopher Durning
Give Me Sport
This past weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix was one to forget for the 2025 Constructors' Championship winners, as drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were both disqualified after the race. Norris had originally finished second in Sin City, behind race winner Max Verstappen, with Piastri back in fourth. However, the Papaya pair were then excluded from the official classifications after their cars were found to have skid block wear. Stewards deemed that the thickness of the planks under both McLaren cars measured less than 9mm, which is the required minimum by the end of a grand prix.
team principal Andrea Stella apologising to both Norris and Piastri; "We apologise to Lando and Oscar for the loss of points today, at a critical time in their championship campaigns after two strong performances from them all weekend." Stella went on to add: "As a team, we also apologise to our partners and fans, whose support means so much. While this outcome is extremely disappointing, we remain fully focused on the last two races of the season.”
"The theory as to why the skid blocks wore down below the limit has been linked to "unexpected porpoising" which happens when the car bounces on the track. Heading into this weekend's race in Qatar, the team are to be 'closely monitored' after it was claimed that they (along with several rival constructors) had been using the illegal practice of teams using skid blocks that expand when heated. The FIA have been monitoring the issue since it was first brought to their attention by other teams at the Brazilian Grand Prix in November.
'Closely monitored';
https://www.givemesport.com/mclaren-...itored-fia-f1/
How Porpoising Torpedoed McLaren’s Vegas Dream—Twice
November 27, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com
McLaren pins Las Vegas double DSQ on “unexpected” porpoising, not a setup gamble. McLaren left the Strip empty handed after a bruising Las Vegas Grand Prix that looked, for a few hours at least, like a tidy night’s work: Lando Norris second on the road, Oscar Piastri fourth. Then the scrutineers pulled out the gauges, found too much plank wear, and both cars were disqualified. Team principal Andrea Stella has now spelled out the root cause. It wasn’t an over eager setup or an aggressive ride height gamble. It was porpoising—back with a vengeance and, in McLaren’s case, far worse than anything their data predicted.
“The specific cause that led to the situation was the unexpected occurrence of extensive porpoising, inducing large vertical oscillations of the car,” Stella explained, adding that the phenomenon was “exacerbated by the conditions in which the car operated during the race.” On paper, the infraction was clear. Under post race checks, Norris’ plank measured below the mandatory 9mm at two points—8.88mm front right and 8.93mm right rear—while Piastri’s car tripped three locations at 8.96mm front left, 8.74mm front right and 8.90mm right rear.
McLaren saw trouble coming early. Telemetry during the Grand Prix flagged unexpected bouncing, and the drivers were told to lift and coast to try to save the plank. It didn’t save the day. The cars still failed the scrutineering box. Crucially, Stella insists this wasn’t the by product of McLaren chasing an edge it couldn’t sustain. The team had already raised the car versus practice, he said, building in margin for qualifying and the race. The problem was the margin got wiped out by those vertical hits at speed.
‘Porpoising Torpedoed McLaren’s Vegas Dream’;
https://fastestlap.com/news/how-porp...s-dream-twice/
Norris sees pressure piled on by Verstappen - F1 Qatar GP preview
26 NOV 2025
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com
No more room for error: It was a 49-point gap between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen before action got underway in Las Vegas. A bit of wriggle room in a tightening title battle for the McLaren driver. That wiggle room has disappeared. Now, that point gap drops below the 25 points for a Grand Prix win after Norris was disqualified due to excessive plank wear. While Verstappen roared to victory, he also threw all the pressure onto the championship leader.
But don't write Oscar Piastri off just yet, either. It was another rocky race weekend that saw the Australian cross the line in fifth before his disqualification, with the 104-point deficit between himself and Verstappen now no more as they sit on 366 points each. The 24-year-old may be trending downwards compared to the other title protagonists, but the talent and pace shown across the campaign means the McLaren man cannot be ruled out.
For their part, Red Bull Racing needs to find the right set-up straight away, as the Sprint weekend format would eventually strongly penalise Verstappen in the Sprint, making him lose important points to Norris in the championship.
‘No more room for error’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/norri...tar-gp-preview
Oscar Piastri backed to have edge over Lando Norris in Qatar
26 Nov 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com
Jamie Chadwick has tipped Oscar Piastri to have the edge over Lando Norris at this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix. The British racer, who made an appearance on the Sky Sports F1 show, highlighted how the changing conditions of the Qatar Grand Prix, compared to circuits where Piastri had struggled, could play into the hands of the young Australian.
“I think in terms of tracks, if you look at Vegas and you look at Qatar, they couldn't be more extreme in terms of differences in track layout, temperature, grip, everything. It's so polar opposite: tyre degradation, everything. If there's any sort of positive feeling going into this weekend, for sure, Oscar should have it," she said.
Piastri has suffered a dip in form in comparison to Norris, particularly since the aftermath of the Italian Grand Prix. The Australian driver has failed to record a top-three finish since the race in Monza. However, Piastri boasts fond memories of racing in Qatar, finishing ahead of Norris in both the 2023 and 2024 editions of the Grand Prix in Lusail.
‘Oscar Piastri backed to have edge’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/oscar...orris-in-qatar
George Russell has privately made a Max Verstappen prediction ahead of Qatar GP showdown
26 November 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
George Russell privately thinks Max Verstappen will win the Qatar Grand Prix. Speaking on the Formel Schmidt show after the race in Las Vegas about the penultimate event of the Formula 1 season, Schmidt said: “Of course, there are super-fast corners in Qatar. They’re not particularly long in terms of radius, but they are fast.”
“And George Russell told us yesterday that his favourite is Max Verstappen. Fast corners at Silverstone, Suzuka; Red Bull were at the front there, and he’ll be at the front again. Not good news for McLaren. It will increase the pressure. I’m really curious to see what McLaren will do now, whether there will be team orders, covert or not.”
“But as I said, I can’t imagine that they will hold back. So, they’ll fight to the last moment, because you might only become world champion once in your life, and if you still have a theoretical chance, and on paper it’s as big as Verstappen’s, then you almost have to take it.”
“His favourite is Max Verstappen”;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/geo...r-gp-showdown/
IT'S RACE WEEK: 5 storylines we're excited about ahead of the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix
Chris Medland breaks down the key talking points as Formula 1 heads to the Qatari desert.
26 Nov 2025
Chris Medland
Formula One - Official Site
The McLaren disqualifications. Just when you thought this season couldn’t get any more exciting, think again.
Verstappen’s gains in the title race. A podium finish in Qatar might not be enough, because despite losing his 18 points from Las Vegas, Lando Norris can still win the championship on Sunday.
The final Sprint weekend. Those points could be crucial not only for the top three, but for Teams’ Championship permutations, too.
The Teams' fight is hotting up…
Hamilton’s search for a first Ferrari podium. While he also went winless in 2023 before taking two victories last year, Hamilton is now on the verge of going an entire season without a podium for the first time ever.
In a quite remarkable turn of events given how strong Ferrari were this time last year, they could go an entire season without a victory for the first time since 2021.
‘5 storylines’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...kolMlHibnM1lbv
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Verstappen vows to go 'all in' for title ahead of Qatar Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen has claimed he and Red Bull are "all in" for this weekend's Qatar Grand Prix in pursuit of five consecutive Drivers' Championships, having slashed the points gap at the previous round.
27 Nov 2025
Formula One Official Site
The Dutchman enters the penultimate round of the season just 24 points behind Lando Norris thanks to his victory last time out in Las Vegas as both McLaren drivers were disqualified. "Ready! See what happens. It is the same, I feel the same as last week," said Verstappen
"Yes, it is closer. Ideally I would have loved to have had it even more close, of course we'll try our best. All in, and hopefully we can make it exciting to the end." While Verstappen admits that the second half of the season has been strong, he believes results going in his favour have played their part. "Something that I definitely wouldn't have expected but here we are," said Verstappen.
"I think we have had a very strong end to the season, much more happy with that and [I] guess also we've been helped a little bit with certain things. Results, crashes, disqualifications. We should not forget that I guess but I'm happy. Naturally I would have liked a bit of a better first half but that's something that you can't change. We'll just try to focus on the last two races and try to do the best we can."
“See what happens”;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...bwHc4qHwycy63i
Max previews Qatar GP: 'We can only afford to have a perfect weekend'
26 Nov 2025
Niels Hendrix
Verstappen.nl
Max Verstappen said: “The points in the championship have got closer after Vegas however, as we go into Qatar, we will still approach the weekend the same way we have always done and just take it one race at a time. We go into each weekend focused on maximising as many points as we can and extracting the best performance out of the car possible, which is exactly what we will be doing for this race too.”
Max continued: “It is a sprint weekend so there are even more points to win here and we can only afford to have a perfect weekend. Lusail is a demanding circuit, the heat means tyre management is key and we need to make sure we execute everything right with the mandatory two stop. We are focused on keeping the positive momentum going and the team are pushing as hard as we can to bring the best performance.”
‘Focused on maximising as many points as we can’;
https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/6025/
Relaxed Norris says 'nothing needs to change' for Qatar GP
27 Nov 2025
Nate Saunders
ESPN.com
A relaxed Lando Norris insisted it feels like business as usual ahead of a weekend in which he could clinch his first world championship. The McLaren driver said he sees teammate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull's Max Verstappen as equal threats despite their radically different form coming into such a crucial race. His lead over both would have been greater had McLaren not been sensationally disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix last Saturday for running two cars with illegal levels of plank wear underneath the car, a slam-dunk DQ under F1's rulebook.
"Of course it hurts," Norris said, reflecting on that outcome. "There's a lot of effort that goes into every weekend from everyone, including myself, and it certaintly just felt like that effort disappeared very quickly ... Everyone at McLaren feels let down by what we what we had as a result and we're all disappointed ... but actually I found it quite easy just to move on and have a few days off and come to this weekend."
"[It's felt] same as it has always been to be honest. I feel good. I've had a nice few days off. I came already on Monday morning so I've been here a while to play some golf, some padel, enjoyed some days off, enjoyed some warm weather for once ... feels like it's been a while! I know I feel good. I feel excited for this weekend. It doesn't feel like I had a bad weekend last weekend or we had a bad result so that's a good thing."
'Nothing needs to change';
https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/4...hange-qatar-gp
Norris adamant that ‘nothing has changed’ in title fight following Las Vegas disqualification
27 Nov 2025
Formula One - Official Site
Asked whether he was angered by the disqualification in Las Vegas, Norris replied: “No. It doesn’t help. I think from what I had to do in the race, there was already some expectation that it might happen so it wasn’t a shock or a surprise. We knew we were having a lot more issues than we ever expected during the race. Maybe it would have hurt more if we won the race, but we didn’t so it doesn’t change anything. There’s no point being too sad about it.”
“Of course, everyone in the team was a bit gutted about the result because there’s a lot of effort that goes into it. It was frustrating, but actually I was quite okay. I’m just excited to go again this weekend. It doesn’t change anything – I want to try and win here in Qatar and I want to try and win in Abu Dhabi. It sucks, but that’s life sometimes.”
‘Nothing has changed’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...E1fF1zvqygySFC
Why Aussie star Oscar Piastri will NOT help McLaren teammate Lando Norris win the F1 title - 'answer is no'
27 Nov 2025
IAN CHADBAND
MailOnline
Long-time title frontrunner Piastri, who's been on a wretched run of six podium-free races, revealed on Thursday when asked if McLaren had talked about him playing the team game and assisting Norris: 'We've had a very brief discussion on it and the answer is 'no'. 'I'm still equal on points with Max and I've got a decent shot of still winning it if things go my way, so, yeah, that's how we'll play it.'
'I think there's still a chance and it's played out that way a couple of times before, so I know it's not impossible,' said the Melburnian, who's seeking to become the first Australian champion since Alan Jones in 1980. 'Obviously, I also know that it's a bit of an outside shot.’
'Even if I have a perfect final two weekends, I can't just rely on that. I need other things to go my way and I'm very aware of that. So I think for me I'm just going to try and have the best weekends I can, which I try and do every weekend, and see what happens to everyone else basically.'
"No";
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...answer-no.html
Zak Brown’s Oscar Piastri interaction on the F1 grid suggests their relationship has been ‘damaged’
27 Nov 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
Journalist Peter Hardenacke has reported what he saw on the grid at the Las Vegas Grand Prix that suggests Brown has a very different relationship with each of his drivers. Zak Brown’s ‘really intense’ Lando Norris chat in Las Vegas highlights ‘damaged’ Oscar Piastri relationship. Hardenacke was speaking about what he witnessed in Las Vegas on the Backstage Boxengasse Podcast.
He said: “That was really interesting to see, wasn’t it? Always with caution, of course, so as not to read too much into it, but we were right at the front at the very beginning with Lando’s car, Zak Brown and the two of them really talked a lot. Zak and Lando, there was a really intense exchange, and then later we were also at Piastri’s car when Zak Brown came by, and there really wasn’t much to see there anymore.”
“There was hardly any conversation, just handshakes, and Webber also stopped by briefly, but he didn’t give us an interview either. But even there, you can sense that it’s different with Zak and Lando and, in this case, Zak with Oscar Piastri. Of course, it’s just a snapshot, but I think something has been damaged along the way.”
‘Relationship has been damaged’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/zak...-been-damaged/
Six things we've learned from the first day at F1's Qatar GP
27 Nov 2025
Josh Suttill, Scott Mitchell-Malm, Samarth Kanal, Jon Noble
The Race
Shock Newey appointment a 'logical' move – Alonso. The shock news that Adrian Newey will become Aston Martin’s new team principal is a “normal, logical step into 2026” according to Fernando Alonso.
Sainz and Russell disagree on TV-style stewarding wish: Carlos Sainz’s press conference comments drew particular attention as he said TV broadcasters Jolyon Palmer, Anthony Davidson and Karun Chandhok were correct about contentious incidents “90%” of the time.
McLaren stance is 'perfect' for Verstappen: Verstappen said he'd have told his team to "f off" if they'd asked him to do that, but believes this situation is "perfect" for his title bid.
What's going on with a big intra-team deficit: Esteban Ocon has scored four points to Ollie Bearman’s 25 in the last five rounds and brakes seem to be the issue with Ocon. Or at least, they seemed to be the issue.
Hamilton doesn't regret Ferrari move: Hamilton also said he doesn't regret signing for Ferrari almost two years ago now, "I know it takes time to build and grow within an organisation, and I expected that".
Norris's big 'strength' in title fight: If there is pressure building it didn’t show on Thursday. Norris looks and sounds very calm, and far from being rattled by Verstappen closing in. Whether that translates to the track is the big question.
‘6 things we've learned’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/s...-f1s-qatar-gp/
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Max Verstappen reports gearbox 'disaster' as Oscar Piastri aces Qatar practice.
It is advantage Oscar Piastri in Qatar ahead of Sprint qualifying, whilst Red Bull has work to do following several complaints from Max Verstappen.
28 November 2026
Nick Golding
RacingNews365
Oscar Piastri made a dream start to the Qatar Grand Prix by topping the only practice session, whilst Max Verstappen complained that his gearbox clipping at Turn 6 was a "disaster". Piastri topped practice in Qatar after posting a 1:20.924, to go just 0.058s faster than McLaren team-mate Lando Norris.
Norris can seal a maiden drivers' title this weekend if he out scores Verstappen and Oscar Piastri by two points, but found the start of practice difficult on the hard compound. Verstappen could only salvage sixth-quickest and was almost six-tenths slower than Piastri, raising concerns for Red Bull ahead of Sprint qualifying. The Dutchman was left frustrated with his gear changes throughout the session.
Fernando Alonso went third, ahead of Carlos Sainz, Isack Hadjar, Verstappen, Alex Albon, Charles Leclerc, Kimi Antonelli and Lance Stroll.
‘Advantage Oscar Piastri’;
https://racingnews365.com/max-versta...qatar-practice
2025 F1 Qatar GP – Free Practice 1 Results
McLaren recover from a scrappy start as Oscar Piastri edges Lando Norris in a tight FP1 session that reshapes expectations for the Qatar GP weekend
28 November 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport
F1 Las Vegas GP 2025 FP1 results
Check out the full Qatar GP 2025 Free Practice 1 results from the first practice session in Lusail below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:20.924
2 Lando Norris McLaren +0.058
3 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.386
4 Carlos Sainz Williams +0.480
5 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +0.579
6 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.580
7 Alexander Albon Williams +0.685
8 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.744
9 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +0.745
10 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.774
‘FP1 results’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/202...ice-1-results/
McLaren have cause for concern: Verstappen's pace remains untapped
28 Nov 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com
Oscar Piastri led a McLaren 1-2 in the first and only practice session in Doha, distorting the outlook provided by the first half of the session where Verstappen seemed to thrive and the papaya drivers appeared to struggle.
The breaking point that reversed the positive Red Bull trend was aligned with Verstappen's complaints of a balance issue in his RB21 that triggered bouncing whenever the Dutch driver eades off the throttle. Max Verstappen placed P6 in FP1 in Qatar ahead of the Sprint qualifying. Sky Sports analyst, Jamie Chadwick thinks the reigning world champion's complaints are actually a positive sign, which McLaren should be wary of as they head into the first relevant session of the race weekend.
"We hear snippets of team radio and it seems like he is moaning but a lot of the things he is complaining about can be quickly adjusted. He is delivering what the team need and I would be worried if I were the other teams as he is feeling a lot more performance is available." Fellow presenter Bernie Collins was of a similar opinion saying: "Red Bull have work to do, I think," the former F1 strategy engineer said. "Verstappen often complains in P1 about shifts in the car and Red Bull are generally very good at reacting to that and getting the car back out in a better position,” she concluded.
‘Verstappen's pace remains untapped’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/mclar...r-sprint-quali
F1 2025 Qatar GP FP1: Piastri leads Norris and Alonso in Lusail
Can McLaren respond from their Las Vegas setback?
28 November 2025
Euan Burns
Total Motorsport
FP1 comes to a close: There we go, the only practice session of the weekend comes to a close and, somewhat surprisingly given their pace earlier in the session, it’s Oscar Piastri in P1 and Lando Norris in P2. The top three is rounded out by an impressive Fernando Alonso who seemed to have strong pace on both the hard tyre and the soft tyre.
Max Verstappen started the session very strongly and seemed to set good times on the hard tyre, although he was complaining constantly about various elements of his Red Bull. The switch to the soft-tyre did not help, and he ended the session down in P6.
It was a bad session for Ferrari, who end up P8 with Charles Leclerc and P12 with Lewis Hamilton. That is actually higher than seemed likely for a lot of the hour. The soft tyre also didn’t bring George Russell any joy as he ended up P14, despite spending almost half the session at the top of the leaderboard. Heading into Sprint Qualifying later today, McLaren may have the edge, but it is fair from certain.
‘Piastri leads Norris and Alonso’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...-live-updates/
Smelling Wood: F1’s Title Fight Teeters On A Plank
November 28, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com
‘Smelling a lot of wood’: Russell’s radio quip sums up Qatar’s plank paranoia after McLaren’s Vegas DSQs. George Russell didn’t need sensors to tell him the tide had shifted. “I’m smelling a lot of wood,” the Mercedes driver radioed early in FP1 at Lusail — a neat, slightly deadpan nod to the topic no one in the paddock can stop talking about: plank wear.
Seven days on from McLaren’s double disqualification in Las Vegas, every out-lap, every kerb strike, every ride-height tweak suddenly feels loaded. The sport’s oldest materials science lesson — wood meets asphalt, wood loses — has become the subplot to the penultimate round of the season.
And sure enough, the timing screens framed the stakes. McLaren returned to the front immediately on Friday, Oscar Piastri topping the lone practice hour by 0.058s over Lando Norris. Russell was 14th, nine tenths adrift in the Mercedes W16 as teams tried to thread a very fine needle in a compressed Sprint weekend.
‘Smelling Wood’;
https://fastestlap.com/news/smelling...rs-on-a-plank/
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Oscar Piastri snatches F1 Sprint pole for Qatar GP as Max Verstappen struggles.
Oscar Piastri will start the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix F1 Sprint race on pole position, with the McLaren joined on the front row by George Russell in his Mercedes.
28 November 2025
Euan Burns
Total Motorsport
Lando Norris had a compromised final flying lap in SQ3 which meant he could only achieve P3, whilst Max Verstappen‘s misbehaving Red Bull will start Saturday’s Sprint from P6. There was more misery for Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc qualifying in P9 and Lewis Hamilton all the way down in P18.
Piastri put himself on provisional pole after his first lap, as he was 0.044 seconds quicker than Norris. It seemed inevitable that a McLaren would be on pole for the Sprint, unless Verstappen could produce something on his next attempt. His final lap was only good enough to go to P4, and Tsunoda then went up to P4, pushing Verstappen further down.
“It’s been a good day, which is nice for a change. It has been a day where things have clicked from the start. I’m happy with the result, a few things to tidy up but it is nice to be able to say that starting from pole,” Piastri said after the session. “It is only the Sprint, but I’ll take what I can get. The pace was there all day, hopefully we can keep that going.”
‘Oscar Piastri snatches F1 Sprint pole’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/osc...pen-struggles/
Qatar GP: Sprint Qualifying Results
Full results from Sprint Qualifying for the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix.
29 Nov 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe
Pos. No. Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Laps
1 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:21.286 1:21.005 1:20.055 18
2 63 George Russell Mercedes 1:21.432 1:21.136 1:20.087 19
3 4 Lando Norris McLaren 1:21.398 1:20.956 1:20.285 18
4 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 1:21.276 1:21.272 1:20.450 18
5 22 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull Racing 1:21.458 1:21.152 1:20.519 20
6 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 1:21.172 1:21.036 1:20.528 20
7 12 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:21.555 1:21.376 1:20.532 18
8 55 Carlos Sainz Williams 1:21.438 1:21.172 1:20.542 20
9 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:21.636 1:21.190 1:20.622 20
10 23 Alexander Albon Williams 1:21.721 1:21.212 1:20.788 20
‘Sprint Qualifying’;
https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-q...fying-results/
Oscar Piastri fires 'nice to be back' warning after stealing Qatar Sprint pole
Oscar Piastri claimed pole position for the Qatar GP Sprint - his first in any format since the Dutch Grand Prix.
28 November 2025
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365
"It was a good day, which is nice for a change, and it has been a day where things have clicked, from the start," Piastri explained. "The Sprint quali session went really well, and I had a pretty big moment on my lap, but it was just enough in the end. The car has been really good this weekend, so I'm pretty happy.”
"I think if you hook it up, there was a 1:19 in there, but I'm just happy with the result. There are obviously a few things to try and tidy up, but it is nice to be able to say that when you are starting on pole. It's only Sprint pole and for a few points, but I will take whatever I can get.”
"Sprint weekends are always really tough to know if you are fully on top of things from when you roll on the track, but the car was really good all day. We made some good adjustments in qualifying, which was nice, and the pace was there all day, so hopefully, we can keep that running."
'Nice to be back';
https://racingnews365.com/oscar-pias...ar-sprint-pole
Qatar GP: Piastri’s championship revival continues with Sprint quali pole
28 Nov 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Oscar Piastri’s comeback in the championship race in Qatar continued in the Sprint qualifying as he clinched pole position for the eight-point short race ahead of George Russell. Championship leader Lando Norris was third with Max Verstappen only P6, beaten by Yuki Tsunoda.
The all-important pole position began on a sour note for Verstappen as he complained about the handling of his RB21 as he went flying off the track. Swearing as he went wide, he ranted that the car was “bouncing like a ***** idiot.” Piastri went fastest with a 1:20.2, 0.044s ahead of Norris with Russell three-tenths down on the McLaren teammates. Verstappen went on to explain that “Turn 2 and Turn 4”, he couldn’t control the car. His race engineer GP told him not to give up track position.
Heading into the final two minutes, Piastri lead Norris and Russell with Verstappen down in 10th place. Verstappen improved to P4 but dropped as Yuki Tsunoda went third, and then Fernando Alonso. The front row had yet to be decided. Russell went quickest overall, but then came Piastri with a 1:20.0 took Sprint pole ahead of the Mercedes driver. Norris was third ahead of Alonso, Tsunoda and Verstappen. Antonelli, Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc and Albon completed the top ten.
“Bouncing like a ***** idiot”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/qatar-...lifying-report
Lewis Hamilton’s unbroadcast radio after Qatar Grand Prix SQ1 exit makes for painful listening
28 November 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
The ‘silence’ was deafening from Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari engineer. Hamilton’s 1:22.043 was only faster than the two Alpine cars, who have only combined for 22 points all season. While Charles Leclerc was only 13th in the corresponding session, the gap between the two Ferrari drivers was still over four-tenths of a second.
After crossing the line with his final effort in SQ1, which left him a precarious 15th, Hamilton complained that ‘the car won’t go any quicker’. That message was played out on the F1 world feed, but what wasn’t broadcast was his exchange with Riccardo Adami afterwards. “Assume by your silence that I’m out?” Hamilton asked Adami. “P18,” the engineer replied.
The radio messages, which are indicative of the low morale on his side of the garage, make for painful listening for Hamilton fans. Hamilton said it was the ‘same as always’ when he reflected on his lack of pace in the media pen afterwards. When asked whether the higher-downforce rear wing he fitted for the session made any difference, he replied: “No, clearly not.” And a sardonic Hamilton could only think of one positive that he could take into Saturday: “The weather’s nice.”
“P18”;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/lew...ful-listening/
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The damning image which further fuels rumours McLaren is AGAINST Australian F1 star Oscar Piastri.
'McLaren's garage was so sad when Piastri got pole....you'd think they were attending a memorial service'. F1 fan to reacting with one posting on X.
29 November 2025
ANDREW PRENTICE
MailOnline
Damning vision circulating online has only enhanced speculation that McLaren's pit crew are desperate for Lando Norris to be the next F1 world champion. The significant problem, among accusations of favouritism, is that Aussie Oscar Piastri happens to drive for the same team. Eyebrows were raised when Piastri, 24, secured pole for Sunday morning's AEDT Qatar Grand Prix sprint race.
Norris - the current championship leader - finished third behind Mercedes driver George Russell. And as F1 broadcaster Sky Sports panned to the McLaren engineers, their forlorn faces told the story. 'The lack of clapping from the McLaren garage (for Piastri) wasn't nice to see'. F1 fan to reacting with one posting on X. Speaking post-race, Piastri was elated at the result. 'It's been a good day, which is nice for a change,' he said. 'Things clicked from the start, so thanks to the team. It is only the sprint, but I'll take what I can get. The pace was there all day, and hopefully we can keep that going.'
Piastri also admitted McLaren had raised the possibility of giving 26-year-old Norris priority this weekend to avoid the possibility of Red Bull star Max Verstappen stealing the championship. However, the Aussie confirmed the suggestion was quickly shut down. 'We've had a very brief discussion on it....and the answer is no,' he said.
‘Damning image’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...r-Piastri.html
He’s BACK! Piastri Takes Sprint Pole by 0.032s | Qatar GP | Formula 1.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CPYv9r-KGHg
Karun Chandhok saw how Mark Webber reacted to Oscar Piastri taking Qatar Sprint pole
28 November 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
Karun Chandhok says Mark Webber let out a ‘massive whoop’ after Oscar Piastri’s Sprint pole. Piastri hasn’t taken pole, in any format, since the Dutch GP just after the summer break. That was also his most recent pole position.
In fact, he’s only been in the top three in one of the last 11 competitive sessions, having lost form in a crucial phase of the season. In that context, one can understand why manager Mark Webber was thrilled after Friday’s session, even though it’s only a Sprint qualifying session. Webber was watching the session alongside Piastri’s father.
Your dad and Mark Webber were watching, not far from where we are,” Karun Chandhok told Piastri on Sky after the session. “It was a massive whoop! I can tell you they were very happy with qualifying.” Andrea Stella says Piastri hasn’t ‘elevated his game’ like Norris or Verstappen, but there was optimism that the last two tracks on the calendar would be better suited to his driving style.
“It was a massive whoop!”
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/kar...r-sprint-pole/
'Nice to be back' – Piastri reflects on Qatar Sprint pole as he looks for title fightback
28 Nov 2025
Formula One - Official Site
Oscar Piastri took a vital pole for Saturday's Sprint, with McLaren team mate and title rival Lando Norris starting P3. Oscar Piastri admitted it was "nice to be back" before adding "I’m just happy with the result" having taken pole for the Qatar Sprint, slightly shifting momentum away from McLaren team mate Lando Norris in their title fight.
"It’s been a good day, which is nice for a change," said Piastri after hopping out of the car. "It’s been a day where things have clicked from the start and I think the Sprint Qualifying session went really well. I had a pretty big moment on my lap but it was just enough in the end so thanks to the team – it’s a great car and it’s looked really good this weekend so far. I’m pretty happy with that.”
"I think if you hook it up, there’s a 1m 19s in there. We’ll see what we can do, but at the moment I’m just happy with the result. There are obviously a few things to try and tidy up but it’s nice to be able to say that when you’re starting on pole. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Obviously it’s only a Sprint pole and for a few points but I’ll take whatever I can get."
'Nice to be back';
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...FJej8qSim5PYd6
‘Clicked from the start’: Oscar Piastri makes Qatar qualifying statement to keep title bid alive
November 29th, 2025 3:30 pm
AFP with Fox Sports from Afp
Fox Sports (Australia)
Oscar Piastri confirmed his return to form to keep alive his title bid by claiming pole position on Saturday (AEDT) for Sunday’s sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix. The Australian, who is 24 points behind McLaren teammate Norris in the drivers’ championship, clocked a best time of one minute and 20.055 seconds to outpace George Russell of Mercedes by 0.032 seconds.
In a closely fought sprint qualifying session, series leader Norris was third fastest, two-tenths adrift, ahead of Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin and the two Red Bulls led by Yuki Tsunoda in fifth. “A good day for a change!” said Piastri, who has not won a race since the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August. “Things clicked from the start and qualifying went well and I had just enough in the end. I’m happy with that result but there are a few things to tidy up and it’s nice to say than when you’re starting on pole.”
‘Clicked from the start’;
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...cbde9386855c6f
Qatar GP: Oscar Piastri reviews his Sprint pole lap
28 November 2025
Sky Sports
‘Sprint pole lap review’;
https://www.skysports.com/f1/video/1...print-pole-lap
Piastri reveals mistake that almost cost him Qatar GP Sprint pole
28 Nov 2025
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com
Talking to Sky Sports, the Australian said his lap was far from perfect. He explained: "It almost went horribly wrong at Turn 4! Turning left in a right-hand corner is never a good thing. I lost two tenths. At that point I thought that lap was over, but I kept pushing and was able to find some more time."
“Turn 4!”;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/piast...gp-sprint-pole
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Piastri wins sprint race at Qatar GP to close gap on F1 leader Norris to 22 points.
Heading into Sunday's penultimate race of the season, Norris had 396 points, Piastri 374 and Verstappen 371.
29 November 2025
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MailOnline
Oscar Piastri won the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race from pole position Saturday to move 22 points behind McLaren teammate Lando Norris heading into Sunday's main Formula 1 race. "Yeah, car was good," Piastri said. "Let's keep it going."
Piastri has not won since the final day of August at the Dutch GP and the 24-year-old Australian has no podiums in the past six F1 races, excluding Saturday's sprint.
Race strategy in Qatar will be harder to impose given that teams have two mandatory pit stops, a measure imposed on safety grounds due to a high risk of tire degradation at the 5.4-kilometer (3.3-mile) Lusail International Circuit.
‘Piastri wins sprint race’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap...22-points.html
2025 Qatar GP – F1 Sprint Race Results
Piastri’s Sprint win tightens the McLaren title battle as Verstappen struggles to keep pace
29 November 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport
F1 Qatar GP 2025 Sprint Race results
Check out the full Qatar GP 2025 Sprint Race results from Lusail below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Oscar Piastri McLaren Leader
2 George Russell Mercedes +4.951
3 Lando Norris McLaren +6.279
4 Max Verstappen Red Bull +9.054
5 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull +19.327
6 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +21.391
7 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +24.556
8 Carlos Sainz Williams +27.333
9 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +28.206
10 Alexander Albon Williams +28.925
‘Sprint Race results’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/202...-race-results/
Oscar Piastri reveals late tyre scare en route to F1 Qatar GP Sprint victory
29 November 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week
After the race, Oscar Piastri revealed that he was feeling issues with his rubber, which triggered some anxious moments in the cockpit before the chequered flag fell. “Yeah, like five or six laps to the end, I think it was front left was starting to vibrate a bit and I hadn’t locked up or anything,” he explained to media including Motorsport Week.
“So it’s never a great sign when you start getting vibrations out of nowhere. So I think it was a similar thing for other people as well. So yeah, we’ll see if there’s any concerns with that. But that was pretty much the only concern.” Oscar Piastri spoke of his relief that it was nice to feel out in front again.
“Yeah, it was nice,” he said. “It was nice to have some clean air again, it makes a pretty big difference. Yeah, just nice to get off to a smooth start to the weekend really. Yeah, the car’s been good so far and I feel like I’ve been able to gel with it pretty good. So yeah, obviously the kind of short part of the weekend’s over and now the real stuff begins.”
‘Late tyre scare’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...print-victory/
Piastri upbeat after commanding Sprint win
Oscar Piastri said his return to winning form in Qatar has so far come down to a smooth weekend and a circuit that played perfectly to his strengths.
30 Nov 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe
The McLaren driver led all 19 laps in the Sprint from pole to claim his third career Sprint victory at the venue, finishing comfortably ahead of George Russell and Lando Norris as the title fight tightened heading into qualifying. Piastri said the performance was the product of a trouble-free run and a layout that immediately suited him after several frustrating weekends. “It’s been a good weekend so far,” he explained. “I think everything went smoothly in the Sprint there. So, yeah, happy with how it’s been so far. I just need to keep it rolling.”
“It’s obviously a very different circuit to where we have been. Much higher speed. Much higher grip,” he added. “I think in the last couple of weekends has just been things going wrong rather than being a lack of pace.” Piastri noted that while gains would be limited ahead of the grand prix, the team’s baseline remained encouraging. “Ideally if we can find more pace, I think you know, everyone slowly finds a little bit more through Sprint weekends,” he said. “But I think our base performance seems very strong around here, so it’s more just tuning rather than trying to reinvent the wheel.”
‘Piastri upbeat’;
https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-o...alifying-form/
Max fourth in sprint race Qatar: 'Car is bouncing everywhere'
29 November 2025
Florence Cobben
Verstappen.nl
Max Verstappen has come fourth in the sprint race of the Qatar Grand Prix. “It’s been difficult so far. The start was of course good and I think in the first three laps I just pushed a bit more compared to the guys ahead of the track, looking for an opportunity, knowing that passing was tough. But after that, yeah, you just get into the same trouble. The more the tyres wear, the more you feel those kind of issues, and that basically is what prevented us from really following them. I was basically doing my own race out there. We need to work on that, get rid of the bouncing, jumping, get rid of the oversteer in general. That’s still a big problem.”
Elaborating on the bouncing problem, Max shares: “My car is bouncing everywhere, something I had yesterday already. In the race you go through the turns a bit slower, so the bouncing is a bit less aggressive, but even in the slower turns under braking I am bouncing. You can’t attack a corner consistently. That’s just annoying.”
'Car is bouncing everywhere';
https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/6032/
Hamilton slams Ferrari with stark team radio after Qatar GP sprint race
29 Nov 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com
Another forgettable race for Lewis Hamilton, who finished the Qatar Sprint in just seventeenth place. The seven-time world champion, speaking over the radio at the end of the race, summed it up with an eloquent: “I don’t know how we made the car worse,” once again highlighting his lack of feel with the SF25, an issue he’s battled almost all season.
The Englishman had started from the pit lane, opting for a setup change in an attempt to try something different in the race — a gamble that clearly didn’t pay off, as his final result shows.
Things didn’t go much better for his teammate either, with Leclerc finishing just thirteenth, stuck behind Oliver Bearman’s Haas for the entire race.
“I don’t know how we made the car worse”;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/hamil...gp-sprint-race
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Piastri snatches vital pole position off Norris with final lap in qualifying.
All three title contenders will start at the sharp end of the grid as Max Verstappen narrowly beat George Russell to third.
29th November 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
The final stage of qualifying was red-flagged after drivers completed their first runs for an unusual reason. Carlos Sainz Jnr’s Williams picked up a sticker from the garage floor as it left, which fell off the car after he joined the track. The stewards noted Williams for a potential unsafe release. By the time the session was halted, Norris had set the fastest time with a lap of 1’19.495. Piastri came close to beating him, lapping quicker through the middle sector, but was three hundredths of a second behind at the line.
The McLaren pair had the fight for pole position to themselves. Verstappen was almost half a second slower, while Russell pipped him by a tenth of a second. Leclerc had a dramatic moment on his first run when he lost control of his car on the exit kerb at turn 15. The Ferrari spun through 720 degrees at high speed. Norris followed Russell out of the pits after the session restarted, but the Mercedes driver did a build lap before starting his first run. The McLaren driver got as far as turn two before having to make a major correction and backed off. “I just got a bit of understeer and was going to go off so I had to abort,” he explained afterwards.
Behind him, Piastri chipped away at his best time from sector to sector and took a tenth of a second off Norris’s time at the line. Verstappen initially looked like a threat for pole position but faded to third. Russell didn’t improve in his first sector but ended his lap well. However it wasn’t quite enough to beat Verstappen, falling short of the Red Bull by a hundredth of a second. His team mate Antonelli backed him up in fifth ahead of Hadjar. Sainz rebounded from his peculiar problem to take seventh ahead of Alonso, but Leclerc’s final effort wasn’t good enough to better 10th on the grid.
‘Piastri snatches vital pole’;
https://www.racefans.net/2025/11/29/...in-qualifying/
2025 F1 Qatar GP – Qualifying Results
29 November 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport
F1 Qatar GP 2025 Qualifying results
Check out the full Qatar GP 2025 Qualifying results from Lusail below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:19.387
2 Lando Norris McLaren +0.108
3 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.264
4 George Russell Mercedes +0.275
5 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.459
6 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +0.727
7 Carlos Sainz Williams +0.900
8 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +1.031
9 Pierre Gasly Alpine +1.090
10 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +1.174
‘Qualifying results’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/202...fying-results/
Piastri continues title resurgence with massive pole lap in Qatar Grand Prix
29 Nov 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com
Oscar Piastri continued his brilliant resurgence with a pole position at the Qatar Grand Prix qualifying. The McLaren driver clocked the quickest time of the session – ahead of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. Piastri, who appears to have revived since his dip in form following the Grand Prix in Azerbaijan, set a staggering 1:19.382, fast enough for pole position.
Mercedes driver George Russell finished in fourth place, with Kimi Antonelli in fifth. Isack Hadjar, Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, Pierre Gasly, and Charles Leclerc rounded out the top 10.
‘Piastri continues title resurgence’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/breaking-n...tar-grand-prix
Oscar Piastri takes Qatar Grand Prix pole as Lando Norris makes error on final lap.
Oscar Piastri will start the Qatar Grand Prix from pole position after snatching the front spot from his McLaren teammate Lando Norris.
29 November 2025
Rebecca Braybrook
F1 Oversteer
Early laps saw Piastri top the timing sheets from George Russell and Fernando Alonso, with Lando Norris finding himself down in P8.
Red Bull tried a new strategy with Verstappen in the middle part of qualifying. The team sent the Dutchman out on two warm-up laps before starting the flying time to see if this could get his tyres into a more optimal window. He initially went top of the timings before McLaren’s laps, with Piastri jumping Verstappen by nearly half a second. Norris was unable to catch Verstappen with his first flying lap, finding himself in third before his time was deleted for track limits.
Norris was able to put his first flying lap together, to set a time of 1:19.495 as the pace from McLaren seemed unbeatable. Piastri’s first attempt saw him three-hundredths of a second behind his teammate with Russell and Verstappen unable to match the pace. Oscar Piastri will start the Qatar Grand Prix from pole position after snatching the front spot from his McLaren teammate Lando Norris.
‘Oscar Piastri will start the Qatar Grand Prix from pole’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/osc...-on-final-lap/
Qatar GP: Piastri ‘buses’ his way to pole position ahead of Norris and Verstappen
29 Nov 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Oscar Piastri secured his second pole position of the Qatar weekend with a P1 in qualifying for the grand prix, beating Lando Norris after the Briton abandoned his lap having made a mistake. In a weekend of high stakes with Norris in a position to win the World title, it was Piastri who came to the fore at the Lusail International Circuit.
Only five drivers went into Q3 with two new sets of soft tyres: Piastri, Norris, Verstappen, Russell and Isack Hadjar. Verstappen was the first out, crossing the line with a… no, it was another double warm-up for the Red Bull driver. Norris set a 1:19.495 as the benchmark time with Piastri coming through 0.035s down on his teammate to put Norris on provisional pole. Leclerc had a spin and pitted without a time on the board. Russell went third ahead of Verstappen, Hadjar and Kimi Antonelli.
The red flags were waved with 5:27 on the clock as the marshals ventured out… Back underway, Russell was the first driver out of the pits ahead of Norris. Norris, however, had a moment at Turn 2 and abandoned his lap. He still had time for another. Piastri upped his pace, purple in the first sector, as too did Verstappen. As they traded purple sector times, Norris did not cross the line to start another flying lap and pulled into the pits. Piastri posted a 1:19.387 to snatch pole position away from Norris with Verstappen’s time only good enough for third behind the McLaren teammates. Russell was P4 ahead of Antonelli and Hadjar.
‘Piastri ‘buses’ his way to pole’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/qatar-...lifying-report
Piastri takes Qatar GP pole as Norris rues crucial qualifying error
Nov 29, 2025
Ben Anderson
The Race
Oscar Piastri beat Lando Norris to pole position for Formula 1’s 2025 Qatar Grand Prix, after Norris made a crucial mistake on his final flying lap in Q3. Norris held a narrow 0.035s edge on Piastri heading into the final runs of qualifying at the Losail F1 circuit, but had to abort his final Q3 lap after understeering wide at Turn 2.
There wasn’t enough time left for championship leader Norris to cool down his tyres and go again and he didn't have enough fuel anyway, so he returned to the pits as Piastri completed a clean final lap to take pole by a tenth of a second. This came off the back of a tricky time in Q2 for Norris, who required a second run after his first lap was deleted for exceeding track limits.
Max Verstappen couldn’t complete with the McLarens for pole, lacking pace particularly in the winding turns of the middle sector, but he found enough speed to beat George Russell’s Mercedes to third on the grid.
‘Norris rues crucial qualifying error’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/p...lifying-error/
-
Ferrari's dismal sprint a 2025 low.
"Even Pierre came up to me afterwards, he was like 'yo... it looks so bad'! I was like 'yeah, yeah... no sh- Sherlock.' "
Nov 29, 2025
Jon Noble
The Race
Hamilton told Spanish broadcaster DAZN that things looked so difficult that it came as a surprise to Alpine driver Pierre Gasly, who followed him for much of the sprint. "Even Pierre came up to me afterwards, he was like 'yo... it looks so bad'! I was like 'yeah, yeah... no sh- Sherlock.' "
From Leclerc’s perspective, a scrappy opening lap where he ran wide and lost positions set the tone for more dramas throughout the race. “Just incredibly difficult to drive the car,” he said. “I don't have any explanations for now. I thought there was damage on the car - we saw something, but it was after the first few laps, where[as] the problem was mostly in the first lap. So we'll analyse that, but it felt horrible.”
“I was like 'yeah, yeah... no sh- Sherlock.' ";
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f...lerc-hamilton/
Martin Brundle shakes his head at Ferrari after hearing their excuse for their 2025 woes
29 November 2025
Ashley Hambly
F1 Oversteer
Martin Brundle picks apart Ferrari’s excuse for their struggles this season. During his comments to the media in the pre-event press conference ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur revealed that engineers in Maranello switched focus to their 2026 challenger at the end of April, ending any chance of improving the SF-25 for the remainder of the season.
However, Martin Brundle doesn’t buy it. With every other team currently in the same boat ahead of F1’s new 2026 regulations, it can’t be pinpointed as a direct cause for their regression down the pecking order. Speaking to Sky Sports F1 ahead of the Sprint race in Qatar, he said (29/11 13:27), “If they’re satisfying themselves [that] their problems are because they switched off development, like pretty much every other team, then they’re missing a trick because they’ve got bigger things to sort out.”
Martin Brundle also highlighted how he now dreads Lewis Hamilton’s interviews on race weekends. During his assessment of Ferrari before the beginning of the Sprint, Brundle also drew attention to Hamilton’s downtrodden interview after the shootout on the evening prior. “I kind of dread his interviews now on days like that. We know all the great times Lewis has had in Formula 1, races and sessions, and it just won’t come together. If he had a fundamental issue that he knew would take some time to fix, then he could park that. But Leclerc is kind of getting some performance out of his car, which puts salt in his wounds.”
‘Martin Brundle picks apart Ferrari’s excuse’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/mar...eir-2025-woes/
Hamilton and Leclerc stuck in a rut as Ferrari’s woes deepen
29/11/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have raised serious concerns about Ferrari’s form in Qatar, warning that the SF-25 has gone from difficult to barely drivable after an overnight slide that left both men floundering outside the points in Saturday’s Sprint at Lusail. “Well, I mean, we started from the pitlane because we wanted to explore and make some changes,” Hamilton said. “They had some things they found on the simulator last night, so we implemented those changes. And yeah, the car was really in the wrong direction and very, very difficult for whatever reason.”
His frustration centered on a complete lack of rear stability. “We just don’t have any stability,” he added. “So when I say that, it’s the rear end is not planted. So it’s sliding, snapping a lot. Then we have bouncing. So when you’re going into corners like Turn 10, the thing starts bouncing. We have a lot of mid-corner understeer. And then you apply the steering and then it snaps and you try and catch it. So it’s different between low, medium and high. And it’s a fight like you couldn’t believe.”
Leclerc: ‘The feeling has changed completely’ If Ferrari hoped Hamilton’s problems were setup-specific, Leclerc confirmed the situation is far more worrying. “It definitely did,” he said when asked if the car had worsened since qualifying. “I have no idea how that happened from qualifying to today. The feeling has changed completely to yesterday and I don’t really know from where it’s coming from.”
‘Stuck in a rut’;
https://f1i.com/news/554829-hamilton...es-deepen.html
Ferrari have become a midfield F1 team and Charles Leclerc’s Qatar Sprint radio proves it
29 November 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
Speaking on Sky Sports before the Sprint, Jamie Chadwick said Ferrari have become a ‘midfield’ team at the end of the 2025 season. They are increasingly likely to finish fourth in the constructors’ championship. “Most teams stopped development, so OK, they can be excited about 2026, but this year, they are in the midfield,” said Chadwick. “Charles crept into Q3 and was P9 but it’s not anything to get very excited about.”
After unsuccessfully pursuing the Haas of Oliver Bearman, Leclerc found himself battling Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson. The Monegasque, who reported a serious imbalance at the rear, ran off the track and Lawson went wide with him. The New Zealander stayed ahead when they rejoined, and was predictably instructed to return the position. But Leclerc sounded disinterested when he noted the infringement on the radio. “Position gained out of the track, but I don’t really mind,” he said.
Messages like this confirm that Ferrari have descended into an end-of-season purgatory, unable to fight their traditional rivals and now falling into the clutches of the midfield. Both Leclerc and Hamilton are becoming disengaged as a result. “The first lap I thought I would destroy the car in the wall,” Leclerc said after the race, highlighting the severity of the rear instability.
‘Ferrari have descended into an end-of-season purgatory’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fer...dio-proves-it/
Charles Leclerc sides with Lewis Hamilton with Ferrari verdict after Qatar sprint
“The feeling has changed completely to yesterday and I don’t really know from where it’s coming from.”
29 Nov 2025
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
Charles Leclerc agrees with Lewis Hamilton’s assessment that Ferrari’s car took a worrying step backwards overnight at the Qatar Grand Prix. It was a miserable sprint race for both Ferrari drivers. Starting from ninth on the grid, a scrappy opening lap saw Leclerc drop back to 13th in the order. Leclerc ran wide as he struggled with the handling of his SF-25. Hamilton elected to start from the pit lane after his SQ1 exit.
Assessing Leclerc’s comments, former F1 strategist Bernie Collins believes his feedback will worry Ferrari, given there were minimal changes to his car since sprint qualifying. “I think the most interesting thing there listening to both drivers is that we know Lewis changed his car. He started from the pit lane so to hear him say ‘we made it worse today’ isn’t that much of a surprise because you know they changed something,” Collins explained.
“I don’t really know from where it’s coming from”;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/108756...r-qatar-sprint
Hamilton fires back at media for Ferrari mental blow amid Qatar GP debacle
29 Nov 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com
Lewis Hamilton has held the media accountable for the psychological impact Ferrari staff have been hit with throughout the tough F1 2025 season. "The negativity that's constantly within the media and everything like that, that affects them, they get home to their wives and their wives say 'they've been saying this about the people where you work'."
- Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton reveals Ferrari's Achilles' heel: "Yeah, the development's not been the issue," Hamilton told GPblog dismissing the lack of development as the cause for Ferrari's woes. "I mean, I wanted them to move to next year's car when we knew the car was not good. I wanted to make sure we started early. So I was in full support of that. It means it's a long year with what we've had. There's just other things that need to be worked on," he added without clarifying what he meant.
When asked what Ferrari was currently battling, Hamilton pointed to the natural consequence of such an early development freeze. "Stability, the challenge is stability," he continued. "We're obviously lacking downforce to the others [F1 Teams]. We haven't developed the car for some time, so the cars have been on the ragged edge, and I guess just a bit of luck."
‘Lewis Hamilton has held the media accountable for the psychological impact Ferrari staff’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/hamil...tar-gp-debacle
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David Coulthard says Lewis Hamilton had a ‘told you so’ moment watching Charles Leclerc at Qatar Grand Prix.
Leclerc suffered a violent spin in Q2 but continued, no doubt thankful for the expansive run-off at the Lusail International Circuit.
29 November 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
Charles Leclerc’s Qatar Grand Prix spin shows the Ferrari is so ‘difficult’ to drive. F1TV commentator Alex Jacques noticed that pundits Jolyon Palmer and David Coulthard were wincing every time the world feed cut to Leclerc’s onboard footage during qualifying.
“Every single time we go on board with him, everyone leans back in this commentary box,” he observed. Leclerc suffered a violent spin in Q2 but continued, no doubt thankful for the expansive run-off at the Lusail International Circuit.
Coulthard reckons Hamilton must have felt vindicated watching his teammate’s mishap. There is some disagreement as to who’s to blame for their dismal 2025 season – John Elkann has told the drivers to ‘talk less’ and focus more on their job. “Hamilton, though, if he was watching that will go, ‘I told you so, look how difficult it is!'” Coulthard said.
‘Told you so’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/dav...ar-grand-prix/
Leclerc’s Huge Mistake in Qatar Q2! Wild Double 360 Degree Spin Shocks Qualifying
@F1UndercutShort
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mD0JEqtjWYk
Charles Leclerc SPINS HARD | 2025 Qatar Grand Prix
@DifferentTurn
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Vl3XZN6H5GE
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc outline Ferrari car woes amid 'unbelievably difficult' Qatar GP weekend
Lewis Hamilton's Qatar troubled continue with a second-successive 18th place on grid while Charles Leclerc again fares better but also struggles with Ferrari's car.
30 November 2025
Sky Sports
Lewis Hamilton described trying to get performance out of Ferrari's car as "a fight like you couldn't believe", while Charles Leclerc said they were enduring an "unbelievably difficult" weekend, on a chastening Saturday for the team at the Qatar Grand Prix.
Hamilton made his comments after Saturday's 19-lap Sprint, for which he had started from the pit lane due to set-up changes after originally only qualifying 18th. He finished only one place better off in 17th and said on the radio afterwards: "I don't know how we made the car worse".
Team-mate Charles Leclerc had started in the top 10 but also struggled, despite sticking with the set-up he qualified with, with the Monegasque having numerous off-track moments on his way to 13th.
‘Ferrari car woes’;
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...tar-gp-weekend
Ferrari change left Lewis Hamilton out to dry at 2025 Qatar GP
A late Ferrari setup call left Lewis Hamilton furious after a disastrous F1 Sprint Qualifying showing at the Qatar GP
29 November 2025
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport
Karun Chandhok: No obvious driver error on Hamilton lap. Making matters worse? According to Karun Chandhok, who raced in F1 from 2010-11, there didn’t appear to be any obvious driver error on the car – it was simply slow as it oversteered and understeered its way around the circuit.
There’s little doubt the lack of knowledge with the new rear-wing and behaviour changes to the car sapped away at the Brit’s confidence and left him unaware and with little confidence to extract the pace from his car. Clearly frustrated, Hamilton opted to cut his post-race interview short after Ferrari and their change left him out to dry at the 2025 Qatar GP.
Asked whether the car had been difficult, Hamilton replied to F1 TV, “Same as always.” When pressed on if the high-downforce setup chosen made any difference, he sarcastically laughed off the question and said no. Finally, he said the nice weather is the only thing he’s looking forwards to as far as Saturday was concerned.
‘Lewis Hamilton furious’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/fer...2025-qatar-gp/
Lewis Hamilton ‘constantly challenged’ with critical Ferrari SF-25 flaw
29 Nov 2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
“We made changes, the car felt better in quali,” Hamilton informed PlanetF1.com and other media outlets. However, that could not prevent Hamilton from suffering back-to-back departures at the Q1 stage. “I think the early session was looking pretty decent, and then just didn’t get the last lap,” he said.
Hamilton believes he will need to get creative if he wants to progress from 18th on the grid. “Not really,” said Hamilton when asked if he has a chance to try anything tomorrow to improve, “you saw in the Sprint there’s no overtaking. I’ll try something different with strategy maybe, and we’ll see what I can do tomorrow.”
Lewis Hamilton was asked by PlanetF1.com what is still lacking for him and taking his confidence away at the wheel of the SF-25. “Stability. We’re constantly challenged with stability,” he said. “We’re obviously lacking downforce compared to the others obviously, because we haven’t developed the car for some time, so the car is on the ragged edge, and just I guess a bit of luck.”
‘Critical Ferrari SF-25 flaw’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/lewis-...nged-stability
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‘Anything can happen’ – Verstappen outlines Qatar GP expectations as he bids to keep title chances alive.
Optimistic that “anything can happen” in the upcoming Grand Prix.
29 Nov 2025
Formula One - Official Site
Asked whether his car performance had improved, he replied: “I think this Qualifying was a little bit better even though we were still quite far off, let’s say it like that. I felt a little bit happier but there are still some limitations that don’t allow us to push harder around the lap, but at least we are P3.”
“Starting on the second row creates better opportunities because we know it’s quite hard to pass around here. We’ll see what we can do tomorrow. Realistically, it’s a bit tough this weekend. It’s just not been what I wanted it to be so far, but we’ll see what we can do tomorrow.”
Prompted on his expectations for the race, he said: “I already saw it of course in the Sprint. I don’t expect that to be completely different tomorrow so we’ll see. We’ll try to do the best we can. I’ll try to have a good start and just go from there because anything can happen.”
‘Anything can happen’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Mx4c5QgRNiK1DD
Brown bracing for fireworks: ‘Don't miss the start of the Qatar GP’
30/11/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
McLaren boss Zak Brown is bracing for a blockbuster opening lap on Sunday in Qatar… …Brown expects the reigning champion to try something spectacular the moment the lights go out. “For sure, you know he's going to try and lead into Turn 1, so I wouldn't miss the start of tomorrow's grand prix,” Brown told F1 TV – a comment that landed somewhere between excitement and warning.
Brown says the mission is simple: keep the orange cars ahead and turn F1’s season finale next week at Yas Marina into a straight fight between his two drivers. “Our goal is to make sure papaya wins this championship, so if we can finish where we've started here and just have it be a two-horse race in Abu Dhabi, that's our goal. And if they want to reverse positions that's up to them, I don't care.”
“It’s business as usual, they know the rules. We love watching them race, they race each other hard, they race each other cleanly, so, they know if they can kind of check out that we'll be looking good in Abu Dhabi. But let’s see, they’ve got to do that first.”
Don't miss the start of the Qatar GP’;
https://f1i.com/news/554932-brown-br...-qatar-gp.html
Verstappen vows to ‘try everything’ to keep F1 title hopes alive
November 29, 2025
Laurence Edmondson
TSN
"We'll try everything we can," Verstappen said after Saturday's qualifying session. "At the start [of the race], turn one, all the laps." He added: "It will be tough. I mean, in the sprint as well, I tried, but then, yeah, we just fall into that window where we just struggle a lot on the tires and we don't seem to really be able to keep up."
Verstappen also doubts he has the race pace to match the McLarens based on the lap times Piastri was able to achieve at the end of Saturday's sprint race. "Also, the few final laps of Oscar in that sprint, I need to cut a corner to do that. It will be maybe a little bit better, but yeah, it will be tough, I think, to do that. But let's see. It's a long race. Anything can happen."
‘Try everything’;
https://www.tsn.ca/motorsports/artic...e-n1-47141541/
Max Verstappen tells Red Bull where to improve at 2025 Qatar GP: ‘That’s still a big problem’
The world champion has struggled with bouncing on his RB21 in the Middle East
29 November 2025
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport
Max Verstappen pinpoints to Red Bull where he is struggling with his car as he tells his engineers have to improve the bouncing at the 2025 Qatar GP if he hopes to keep his Formula 1 title goals alive.
Team boss Laurent Mekies, the team is going to work to find an engineering solution to the bouncing at the Losail International Circuit to give their start driver the platform he needs to take control of his championship destiny again. “A bit of damage limitation,” Mekies told Sky Sports F1, praising Verstappen. “It’s fair to say we are not quite happy with the car, hopefully we have more to come.”
“We have to try to see if we can extract a tenth or more out of the car. The top four guys were quite close but on our side, there’s something more we can do. The optimum performance window is undoubtedly very narrow. That’s not a secret. We don’t rest until we are in that window. That’s how we go racing. We don’t take second for an answer. We will keep trying.”
“We don’t rest until we are in that window”;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/max...ssue-qatar-gp/
Verstappen reveals strategy to keep title hope alive after Qatar qualifying
29 Nov 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com
Max Verstappen has promised to go on an all-out attack on the opening lap of the Qatar Grand Prix after finishing P3 in qualifying. The Red Bull Racing driver, who spoke to GPblog following Qatar GP qualifying, promised to go on a full attack when discussing his approach for the race.
“I will try everything at the start. If I don't pass Lando [Norris], he scores more points than me,” he said. The Dutch driver, however, admitted it would be a tough challenge, referencing the Sprint race where he was stuck behind the McLaren driver.
“It will be tough. In the sprint as well, I tried, but then we just fall into that window where we struggle a lot on the tyres and don’t really manage to keep up,” he added. Further highlighting the pace the McLaren car has, Verstappen concluded: “Also, those final laps of Oscar in that sprint, I’d need to cut a corner to match him. So it might be a little better, but I think it will be tough to do that. But let's see. It's a long race. Anything can happen.”
‘Max Verstappen has promised to go on an all-out attack on the opening lap’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verst...tar-qualifying
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Verstappen wins Qatar GP to set up three-way title fight in F1 finale.
Verstappen clinches Qatar Grand Prix victory ahead of Piastri, and the championship will be decided in Abu Dhabi next weekend.
November 30, 2025
Pablo Elizalde
Motor Sport Magazine
Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix ahead of Oscar Piastri to take the 2025 Formula 1 championship fight all the way to the wire in Abu Dhabi.
Piastri and team-mate Lando Norris paid the price for not pitting during a safety car period early on, and Verstappen made good use of the misstep to take a comfortable victory and keep his title hopes alive ahead of the final race of the season.
Verstappen was running in second when the safety car came out and duly made the first of his two mandatory pitstops.
Only Piastri and Norris didn’t pit, a decision that essentially eliminated them from the victory fight.
Verstappen crossed the finish line eight seconds ahead of Piastri, with Carlos Sainz completing the podium for Williams after a superb performance.
Norris finished outside of the top three in fourth after a disappointing day, which saw his championship lead shrink to just 12 points from Verstappen and 16 to Piastri.
Kimi Antonelli finished fifth after being overtaken by Norris on the final lap.
‘Three-way title fight’;
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a.../?nowprocket=1
2025 F1 Qatar Grand Prix – Race Results
Verstappen storms to victory at Lusail as Piastri and Sainz complete the podium on a pivotal night in the championship fight
30 November 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport
F1 2025 Qatar Grand Prix Race Results
Check out the full Qatar GP 2025 F1 race results from Lusail below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Leader
2 Oscar Piastri McLaren +7.995
3 Carlos Sainz Williams +22.665
4 Lando Norris McLaren +23.315
5 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +28.317
6 George Russell Mercedes +48.599
7 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +54.045
8 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +56.785
9 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls +60.073
10 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull +61.770
‘Grand Prix Race Results’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/202...-race-results/
Max Verstappen wins the Qatar Grand Prix as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri suffer McLaren strategy nightmare.
30 November 2025
Shay Rogers
F1 Oversteer
The 2025 Formula 1 title battle will go to the season finale as Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix ahead of Oscar Piastri in second, with Lando Norris crucially down in fourth. Carlos Sainz held on for third place, despite late damage to his Williams, while Kimi Antonelli was fifth for Mercedes.
Piastri got the start he needed, easing into turn one in the lead, while Verstappen swooped around the outside of Norris. Jeopardy occurred on lap seven, when Nico Hulkenberg was clipped by Pierre Gasly at turn one, forcing a safety car.
Everyone would make their first of two planned pit stops for the race, apart from McLaren. It meant that their two drivers would have one more stop to make than their rivals for the rest of the Qatar Grand Prix. They would eventually change tyres on laps 24 and 25, but couldn’t gain enough time to catch Verstappen.
‘McLaren strategy nightmare’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/max...egy-nightmare/
Max Verstappen wins Qatar GP as Lando Norris nightmare sees F1 title battle go to Abu Dhabi
Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix after a McLaren blunder and a nightmare race by Lando Norris means the championship heads to the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi
30 November 2025
CAMERON WINSTANLEY
Daily Star
The F1 World Championship battle will go to the final race in Abu Dhabi. Lando Norris had the chance to win the title this weekend in Qatar but endured something of a nightmare weekend to his recent fortunes after he was only able to finish third in Saturday’s sprint race before coming home fourth in the Grand Prix.
Norris was gifted a fourth-place finish and a crucial two extra points after Kimi Antonelli ran wide and Norris passed the Mercedes on the final lap. On the final lap of the race, Norris passed Antonelli with ease after the Mercedes rookie appeared to make an error. The message was relayed to a furious Piastri and to Verstappen by a flabergast Gianpiero Lambiase.
‘Lando Norris nightmare’;
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1...appen-36330588
Qatar GP: Verstappen holds off Piastri to win; Norris 4th
Nov 30, 2025,
Laurence Edmondson
ESPN.com
The 2025 title fight will go down to the final round in Abu Dhabi after Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix while championship leader Lando Norris finished fourth.
Verstappen is now Norris' closest competitor heading into next weekend's season finale as Norris' McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri slipped to third place in the standings with a second-place finish in Qatar.
Verstappen is just 12 points behind Norris in the standings with a maximum of 25 points available at the final round, with Piastri 16 points adrift after his McLaren team appeared to throw away his shot at victory by opting against a pit stop under a safety car on Lap 7.
‘The 2025 title fight will go down to the final round in Abu Dhabi’;
https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/4...ar-piastri-win
Verstappen picks up Qatar victory as McLaren make strategy error
30 Nov 2025
Steven De Groote
F1 Technical
Max Verstappen has kept the Championship fight alive by winning the Qatar Grand Prix. The race was effectively decided by McLaren opting not to pit its car under SC, leading to Piastri salvaging to second and Sainz scoring a brilliant podium for Williams. The Qatar Grand Prix kicked off with the best possible start for pole sitter Oscar Piastri as he enjoyed a clean getaway and maintained first place. Lando Norris on the other hand was quickly attacked by Verstappen and passed before the first corner, the latter likely benefiting from starting on the clean side of the track and enjoying a bit of a slipstream behind Piastri. Norris tried to come back after Turn 3 but Verstappen held on to second place.
Hulkenberg gained a position in the start and became the first runner on soft tyres until he crashed off in lap 7. The German attempted to overtake Gasly round the outside of Turn 1 and was pretty much past until Gasly slid wide and into the right rear of the Kick Sauber. Hulkenberg was stunned and indeed couldn't really have done anything else to avoid this incident. The incident immediately triggered a Safety Car that saw Verstappen, Antonelli, Russell, Sainz, Alonso and most others to pit. The McLaren duo and Ocon were the only ones to continue on the same tyres. Ocon pitted one lap later, deciding to immediately serve his fresh 5s penalty of his false start .
The stops didn't really change much with most switching to the hard tyre. Bearman however dropped to 18th after trying to leave the pits too early, requiring his team to property fix the rears before enabling him to get going again. Bearman badly slammed his steering wheel out of frustration moments later as he saw a possibly points finish disappear. The end of lap 42 is when Piastri dove into the pits to change to hard tyres. Piastri returned to the track in third place, 17 seconds behind Norris and Verstappen who by then were glued together. Norris got pitted two laps later, returning to the track down in 5th and promoting Sainz into a podium position.
‘McLaren make strategy error’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/28044
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How ‘shellshocked’ Zak Brown and Andrea Stella instantly reacted after Qatar GP McLaren disaster.
“They don’t really know what to say; they’ve gone to the back of the garage. They said no interviews until after the podium.” Ted Kravitz
30 November 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
Ted Kravitz says Zak Brown and Andrea Stella were ‘shellshocked’ after the Qatar Grand Prix. Ted Kravitz was reporting from the pit lane on Sky Sports F1 (30/11 5:32 pm) and as he was waiting for an interview with team principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown, he said: “Crofty, you know, at the end of these races, I normally get a line with Andrea Stella or Zak Brown quite quickly. Normally, at this moment. They are shellshocked down here at McLaren.”
“They don’t really know what to say; they’ve gone to the back of the garage. They said no interviews until after the podium. They need to go and understand, get their ducks in a row, talk about what they’re going to say and manage to explain this all away.”
‘Shellshocked’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/how...aren-disaster/
‘Rabble’: Tony Jones blasts ‘inept’ McLaren team after Qatar F1 Grand Prix
1 Dec 2025
3AW
Tony Jones has blasted the “inept” McLaren team after their “stuff up” during the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Qatar overnight. “They’re a rabble, they really are,” Jones told Tom Elliott. “It seems as though McLaren has done everything within its power, to thwart him (Piastri) becoming world champion.”
“No one should be treated like he’s being treated.” 3AW Breakfast sports reporter Jon Anderson also shared his thoughts on the race earlier this morning. “You’d say (Max) Verstappen is a better chance than Oscar (Piastri) is, which is just totally unfair,” Anderson told Ross and Russ.
‘Rabble’;
https://www.3aw.com.au/rabble-tony-j...f1-grand-prix/
The worst strategy error of 2025? McLaren’s mystifying Qatar GP call analysed
30th November 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
When the Safety Car was deployed on lap seven of the Qatar Grand Prix, teams generally did not rush to tell their drivers whether to pit or not. Mostly they waited until each of their cars was rounding the final corner before instructing them to pit. Clearly, none of them wanted to tip their rivals off about their strategies. As it turned out, all of them decided to do the same thing, with one significant exception.
McLaren left both their cars on track. It was a decision which cost Oscar Piastri a likely win and left both drivers ruing valuable points lost to championship leader Max Verstappen. What led McLaren to make a decision which, on the face of it, was such an obvious mis-step? As is often the case things are never quite as obvious as they seem. Other teams will have weighed the same risks McLaren did, each facing slightly different circumstances, and come up with quite different answers.
‘The worst strategy error of 2025?’;
https://www.racefans.net/2025/11/30/...call-analysed/
McLaren's botched strategy call helps Verstappen win Qatar GP as F1 title fight goes to final race
30 Nov 2025
JEROME PUGMIRE
Japan Today
One week after losing all their points from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, McLaren threw away a bunch more in an increasingly tense Formula 1 title race by botching a strategy call at the Qatar GP on Sunday. Red Bull's Max Verstappen took full advantage of the unexpected gift to clinch a seventh win this season — his 70th overall — as he closed the gap on championship leader Lando Norris from 24 points at the start of the weekend to 12 points, heading into next Sunday’s title decider in Abu Dhabi.
At the Qatar GP, Norris would have clinched his first F1 title with a win but finished fourth, with Piastri placing second having started from pole position and looking assured. But after an early safety car, McLaren's decision to keep both drivers out backfired badly as Verstappen effectively benefited from a free tire change in a mandatory two-stop race. “It's tough, we just have to have faith in the team to make the right decision,” Norris told broadcaster Sky Sports. ”Now it's the wrong decision, we shouldn't have done it (and) we didn’t do a good job today."
Piastri also said McLaren made an error by staying out following the safety car, which came out after Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber was sent spinning off the track on Lap 7 after being clipped by Alpine driver Pierre Gasly. “Speechless. I don’t know any words,” Piastri said. “It is a little bit tough to swallow at the moment.” Later, the Australian added: “Clearly we didn't get it right” and said there would be discussions.
‘McLaren's botched strategy call’;
https://japantoday.com/category/spor...for-final-race
Piastri left ‘speechless’ by McLaren strategy fumble in Qatar GP
30/11/2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Oscar Piastri cut a gutted figure under the Lusail floodlights on Sunday night, the Aussie left “speechless” after a blistering start to the Qatar Grand Prix was undone by a McLaren strategy call that he admitted – in hindsight – was massively wrong. Speechless. I don’t have any words,” Piastri said on team radio as he coasted back to parc fermé.
Piastri, meanwhile, didn’t sugarcoat the result. “There was nothing left out there. So I tried my best, but it wasn’t to be tonight, unfortunately,” he admitted. “I think in hindsight, it’s pretty obvious what we would have done, but I’m sure we’ll discuss it as a team.” Despite the sting, Piastri still has a mathematical shot at the crown heading into Abu Dhabi. He needs to win – and crucially, Norris must finish no higher than sixth.
The odds are long, and Piastri knows it. “Yeah, I mean, it’s, you know, it’s not all bad,” he said, trying to salvage some optimism. “Obviously, it’s been a really good weekend. The pace has been very strong, but yeah, obviously a little bit tough to swallow at the moment.”
“Speechless”;
https://f1i.com/news/555005-piastri-...-qatar-gp.html
'Help me': Martin Brundle pinpoints the moment Lando Norris's head 'dropped' during the Qatar…
30 November 2025
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer
Speaking on Sky Sports F1’s coverage of the race, Martin Brundle noticed that Norris’ head ‘dropped’ when he realised he could not catch his rivals: “Sainz and Antonelli, at this stage in the Grand Prix, are faster than Norris, and not that far off Piastri and Verstappen, as it happens.”
“So, Norris really has got to find… it sounds like his chin had dropped, didn’t it? He’s like: ‘Help me through turn seven’, and the stopwatch is not showing anything much better than that either, sadly.”
Andrea Stella and Zak Brown were ‘shellshocked’ after the race, as they did not understand how they had lost the race. They would not speak to the media until after the podium, with a lengthy debrief certain to take place.
'Help me';
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/mar...ar-grand-prix/
McLaren boss Andrea Stella attempts to explain Qatar GP strategy blunder
There is a lot of disappointment in the McLaren camp after the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix.
30 November 2025
Euan Burns
F1 Oversteer
A big decision on Lap 7: The key moment of the race came on Lap 7, as there was a safety car following an incident between Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly. Teams were only allowed to run one set of tyres for a maximum of 25 laps around Lusail, and it was a 57 lap race, so pitting on Lap 7 left you with two convenient 25 lap stints to complete for the rest of the race.
The McLaren‘s were P1 and P3 at this stage, and they made the call to leave their cars out and stick to the original plan. As it would turn out, only they and Esteban Ocon made that call, with Verstappen and every other driver coming into the pits. “It was a decision not to pit. In fairness, we didn’t expect everyone else to pit,” Stella said to Sky Sports F1 after the race.
“Once everyone pitted, it makes that the right thing to do. When you have the lead car, you don’t know what the others are going to do. There could have been a loss for Lando if we pitted both cars with the double stack, but, effectively, the main reason was not expecting everyone else to pit. It was a decision. As a matter of fact it wasn’t the correct decision.”
‘Big decision on Lap 7’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/mcl...iastri-norris/
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McLaren’s ‘unforgivable’ reaction to Oscar Piastri podium as his camp reacts to Qatar blunder.
“Let me talk briefly about Parc Ferme. Oscar got out of his car, having finished second, threw his gloves in anger and then went looking for his crew, but they weren’t there. Why weren’t they there?” Photographer Kym Illman.
1 December 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
How Oscar Piastri’s camp reacted to McLaren’s strategy blunder at the Qatar Grand Prix. Illman was speaking on his YouTube channel after the race, and explaining what he saw outside McLaren’s hospitality, he said: “I spoke to some of his inner sanctum tonight in the paddock after the race, and it was very clear that there is tension between Oscar and his entourage and the McLaren team. And you only had to have a look at Oscar’s Instagram post tonight after the race to realise something is wrong. A simple picture of him on the podium, and not a happy shot, and no caption, no words whatsoever.”
“He’s left it up to us to work out what he’s feeling, and I can tell you he’s not happy. I was at the front of the McLaren hospitality suite tonight for some time, and one thing that got my full attention was Zak Brown making a beeline for the TV media pen. It’s only a walk of 30 metres, but he went with purpose at speed, went into the media pen, pulled Oscar away from an interview, gave him a hug, congratulated him in front of the media, and then headed back to the hospitality suite. And at that time, I wondered, was that a PR stunt? Was that something to show that the team is united? Because they’re not. …Zak had to walk past Mark Webber… …he gave Zak a very icy look.”
Illman then noticed something when Piastri was preparing to go onto the podium and continued: “Let me talk briefly about Parc Ferme. Oscar got out of his car, having finished second, threw his gloves in anger and then went looking for his crew, but they weren’t there. Why weren’t they there? Well, maybe a couple were, but certainly second [place] would normally warrant a number of your crew being there to help celebrate. Carlos Sainz had almost all of his side of the garage at Parc Ferme to meet him post-race. I think it’s almost unforgivable to think that you don’t bring your crew down to celebrate with your driver.”
“Went looking for his crew, but they weren’t there. Why weren’t they there?”;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/mcl...qatar-blunder/
Piastri the biggest loser in McLaren misstep - Qatar GP takeaways
Piastri dominated on pace but saw his F1 championship chances slip further away at Lusail. We look at the main storylines from the Qatar GP
December 1, 2025
Pablo Elizalde
Motor Sport Magazine
The Qatar Grand Prix, the penultimate race of a rollercoaster Formula 1 season, was supposed to clarify the title fight, but instead it twisted the narrative into its most intriguing shape yet. As the grand prix circus heads to Abu Dhabi for the finale, the spotlight is now firmly fixed on Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, the Dutchman having edged even closer to a historic comeback after winning at Lusail.
Meanwhile, the driver who truly walked away from Qatar feeling the sharpest sting of disappointment was Oscar Piastri, as a cruel combination of circumstance and strategy meant his title hopes now require his rivals to have a dismal weekend in Abu Dhabi.
McLaren blunder cost Piastri a lot more: Piastri left Qatar knowing he was the weekend’s biggest loser – not because of any glaring mistake, but because he spent three days looking like the quickest driver and somehow left with his title hopes hanging by a thread.
‘Piastri left Qatar knowing he was the weekend’s biggest loser’;
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a.../?nowprocket=1
Oscar Piastri concedes lost F1 Qatar GP win ‘hurts more’ than McLaren’s double Las Vegas DSQ
1 December 2025
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Asked to describe his frustration, Oscar Piastri told media including Motorsport Week: “Pretty high – and that’s saying quite a lot given the last few races I’ve had. But, yeah, I mean, clearly, we didn’t get it right today, which is a shame because the whole weekend went very, very well. We had a lot of pace. I felt like I drove well. So, yeah, it’s pretty painful.”
“I asked, ‘What are we doing?’ Because we were getting pretty close to the pit entry and I hadn’t had a call yet,” he recalled. “So I think when you don’t get a call instantly when the Safety Car comes out, clearly there’s probably some discussions going on about what to do.”
“And in that situation, you have to trust the team because they have a lot more information than the driver in the car on where gaps are and stuff like that. So, yeah, I mean, in that scenario I have to trust what the team decide.”
‘Hurts more’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...-in-las-vegas/
McLaren setting up biggest defeat in F1 history?
The 2025 world championship will go down to the wire after McLaren threw away a likely 1-2 in Qatar with what rivals are calling one of the most baffling strategy errors in years.
DECEMBER 1, 2025
GrandPrix.com
The Papaya-coloured team was the only outfit not to pit under the early safety car - a call that detonated Oscar Piastri's dominant weekend and handed Max Verstappen and Red Bull another lifeline. Sky Italia's Carlo Vanzini didn't hold back: “If McLaren lose the world championship, it would be the biggest defeat in F1 history.”
Even Dr Helmut Marko mocked the team's much-debated “Papaya Rules” philosophy of equal treatment. “I'm not that familiar with all these papaya rules”, he smiled. “We certainly would have brought in at least one of our drivers.”
Ralf Schumacher was even more scathing. “You don't need to be a doctor to realise you need to pit”, he said. “There are too many errors with a superior car. They're overthinking it. Whoever is behind these strategies, it's about time they looked for a better solution.”
‘Biggest defeat in F1 history?’;
https://www.grandprix.com/news/mclar...1-history.html
Mark Hughes: Everything that fed into McLaren's Qatar debacle
Dec 1, 2025
Mark Hughes
The Race
A few weeks ago, Zak Brown and Andrea Stella sat down with Sky Sports F1 to talk about the complex dynamics of the three-way fight for the 2025 Formula 1 drivers' title, when two of those involved drivers are in McLarens. "I'd rather Max Verstappen win the title than favour Lando or Oscar," said Brown.
On a warm Qatar evening, after Verstappen took his seventh grand prix victory of the season through a McLaren pitwall decision to leave race-leading Oscar Piastri and third-place Lando Norris out as everyone else pitted - bringing the Red Bull driver 12 points short of Norris going into next weekend's Abu Dhabi season finale - Stella acknowledged the following:
"The misjudgement is something we will have to review internally. We'll have to assess for instance whether there was a certain bias in the way we were thinking that led us as a group to think that not necessarily all cars would have pitted. There can be some biases in the way that you think."
‘Debacle’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/m...qatar-debacle/
Not McLaren's finest day, says Norris as lead cut to 12 points
November 30, 2025
The Straits Times
Four-times world champion Verstappen is now second in the standings, 12 points off the lead, but Norris would have been champion had he won. He still will be if he finishes at least third at Yas Marina, regardless of where his rivals end up. "It is not our greatest day, it is not our greatest weekend," the 26-year-old told reporters.
"But I don’t know if anyone saw the run of results I had before? They were great. I put myself in this position and I am still happy. It was not my finest day in terms of driving and putting things together. That is life. Everyone has bad weekends. I take it on the chin, we all take it on the chin, and we will see what we can do next weekend."
“That is life”;
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/f...t-to-12-points
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Sainz casts verdict after claiming surprise podium in Qatar GP.
“I’m so happy, so proud of the whole team and of what we’ve achieved today.” - Carlos Sainz
30 Nov 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com
Carlos Sainz expressed his excitement over Williams’ strong performance after claiming a podium finish at the Qatar Grand Prix. “I’m so happy, so proud of the whole team and of what we’ve achieved today.” - Carlos Sainz. He also praised Williams for their flawless execution on race day, from pace to strategy. “We nailed the race pace. I was super quick—much quicker than expected. We nailed the strategy, the tyre management, the start, the defending, and overall race management—and that brought us an unexpected podium, so I couldn’t be more proud," he added.
Sainz highlighted how the team maximised the few opportunities available in the race. “We got everything right today. We had a tough first half of the season when things didn’t come together, but we improved in so many areas over the year. Today, there were a few opportunities out there to grab, and we seized every single one by executing a perfect race.”
Reflecting on his elation at securing the podium. “I’m over the moon with this podium because I absolutely didn’t expect it,” he concluded. The podium for Sainz marked his third since his move to the Williams team, after claim third place in the race in Azerbaijan and another third place in the third place in US Grand Prix Sprint.
“Over the moon”;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/sainz...um-in-qatar-gp
How a Williams experiment led to ‘very strong’ F1 Qatar GP qualifying for Carlos Sainz
30 Nov 2025
Tiana Soans
Motorsport Week
Following a difficult outing in Budapest, Sainz remained adamant that the team could and would improve. “Yeah, I’ve been pushing hard since Budapest,” Sainz explained. “We had a very off weekend at this kind of track corner, to say let’s make sure we use this year as a learning and try something in Qatar, because in Qatar in theory we should suffer, it should be a very tricky weekend for us.”
The Spaniard brought his own simulator-tested ideas to the table, while the team contributed additional concepts. “So let’s make sure we put a plan together, we test,” he said. “I had some ideas in the simulator that I wanted to test. The team came up with other ideas, we put them all together, we went to the simulator, we tested the car, and that gave us what we believe was maybe potentially a good baseline to start the weekend and give it a bit of a go.”
From Friday’s free practice session, the progress was clear. Sainz said, “And right from the get-go it was working well this weekend and it has given us a good understanding, good learnings and confidence because as a team it’s important to do these sort of tests and get them to work.”
“We put them all together”;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...ng-qualifying/
Sainz: How a brutal race was the key to Williams' Qatar GP podium
1 Dec 2025
Drew Murphy
GPblog.com
Carlos Sainz revealed how a rollercoaster Qatar Grand Prix, full of forced pit stops, helped him earn his second podium of the season. "Right from the get-go in practice, the car was a lot better than expected, a lot more competitive." - Carlos Sainz. Sainz’s hot start: Beginning the race from P7 on the grid, the Spaniard quickly improved on the opening lap as Isack Hadjar and George Russell lost positions.
Williams then made the correct call to bring him into the pits during the safety car period, and because of Kimi Antonelli's slow getaway, Sainz pushed further up the grid. Due to the Lusail International Circuit being notoriously difficult to overtake, Sainz was able to maintain his brilliant position. Proud of his team: Speaking to the media, post-race, he said: "I think it’s my proudest day in Williams.”
He was asked to explain the turnaround from previously stating Qatar would be his most difficult weekend of the season, to finishing P3. “I think it's obviously partly due to—or mainly due to—the hard work I think everyone's done trying to prepare this race after the very difficult weekend we had in Budapest. Which is kind of this long, medium-speed combined corners that we always seem to be very, very weak. We put together a plan with the team to try some different things in the simulator and in the factory to try and switch on the car for these kinds of tracks.”
"My proudest day in Williams”;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/sainz...atar-gp-podium
Carlos Sainz reveals how Williams defied internal odds to score shock F1 Qatar GP podium
2 Dec 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week
Sainz explains difference between Baku and Qatar podiums. “It feels different,” he said. “Baku was a bit of a relief because I’d had such a difficult 10 races. I was very quick in the first few races, but always things happening to me. No results coming my way. One of those seasons. I think in the career of an F1 driver, you always have years where, for some reason, things don’t come your way.”
“Doesn’t matter if it’s luck, racing incidents, whatever. It just never comes together. But Baku was a relief – as soon as I got a chance to fight for a podium, I took it, and I gave the team the podium that I felt we needed and we deserved. And here, it’s more a combination of hard work and understanding. I’m extremely proud of the team because we’ve also struggled a bit at the beginning of the year with race execution, team calls, quali execution. And this weekend, everyone’s done a perfect job. Also, the pitstops were perfect. Everyone was perfect, and it’s exactly what we all needed.”
“Perfect job”;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...tar-gp-podium/
Carlos Sainz reveals “something broke” late on as Williams seal eight-year high
30 Nov 2025
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
Sainz hinted over team radio that he had encountered an issue with his car. Explaining his final 10 laps, Sainz described a dramatic shift in his car’s handling. “10 laps to go I decided to push flat-out because we were saving the tyres to keep Antonelli at bay,” he explained.
“Once they told me Lando was going to pass Antonelli, I was like ‘we need to open the gap to Lando as much as possible’ to see if they get into a fight. Five laps to go, something broke in my car, in the front-end. I don’t know if a piece of front wing fell off or something on the tyre. I lost massive front-end in the high-speed and medium-speed.”
“Turning right, actually on the straights, the steering wheel was like this and turning right it wouldn’t turn. Turning left would be fine. Lando caught up on me in the last two laps quite a bit, losing 0.5s of race pace. To be honest, today was controlled but at the same time pushing because I was around cars that were much quicker than me today.”
“Five laps to go, something broke in my car”;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/108769...ight-year-high
Sainz grabs brilliant podium for Williams in Qatar despite late scare
01/12/2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Despite how assured Sainz looked from trackside, the final laps were far more dramatic inside the cockpit. With ten laps to go... ...something suddenly went wrong. “I don’t know if a piece of front wing fell off or something on the tyre. I lost massive front-end in the high-speed and medium-speed. Turning right, actually on the straights, the steering wheel was like this and turning right it wouldn’t turn.”
With a car refusing to steer properly to the right and Norris closing rapidly, Sainz somehow held firm. The McLaren made it into DRS range on the final lap, but the Williams driver’s sheer commitment – and his earlier racecraft – proved untouchable. He crossed the line to secure a joyous and hard-earned third place, his first podium since Baku and one of the most dramatic of his Williams tenure.
Sainz’s podium didn’t just energize the team – it cemented a major achievement. Williams is now guaranteed fifth in the Constructors’ Championship with one round still to go, their best seasonal result since 2017. The Spaniard also etched his own mark in the team’s recent history, becoming the first Williams driver since Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas in 2015 to take multiple podiums in a single year.
‘Williams driver’s sheer commitment’;
https://f1i.com/news/555126-sainz-gr...ate-scare.html
Sainz secures fifth place for Williams in constructors' standings
Dec 01, 2025
The Straits Times
Carlos Sainz expected Qatar to be his hardest race of the year and ended up celebrating a surprise second podium of the season that secured fifth place in the championship for his resurgent Williams team. The Spaniard has now taken twice as many top three placings in 2025 as Lewis Hamilton, the seven-times world champion who replaced him at Ferrari in January and has yet to finish higher than fourth.
"I was proud of Carlos and the team when we got our first podium in Baku," said team boss James Vowles. "The second is a dream come true, but perhaps more importantly at a track that was almost our worst last year. And we've come back, we've reinvented ourselves and the result is there for everyone to see."
‘The Spaniard has now taken twice as many top three placings in 2025 as Lewis Hamilton’;
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/f...tors-standings
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Lewis Hamilton has ‘so many notes’ for Ferrari in ‘no reason couldn’t fix’ claim.
“It definitely has been the most challenging year both in and out of the car,” he said. “I’ve got so many notes in terms of things we need to improve on.”
03 Dec 2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
Ferrari has a long list of “notes” from Lewis Hamilton on how the team can improve. Ferrari is now consigned to fourth in the Constructors’ Championship. F1 2025 has not been the season which Ferrari had hoped for, the ambitions of a title challenge not coming close to fruition. However, Hamilton is “hopeful” for progress, as he sees nothing in his “notes” that Ferrari would be incapable of triggering to make progress.
“It definitely has been the most challenging year both in and out of the car,” he said. “I’ve got so many notes in terms of things we need to improve on. Time will tell whether or not we act on those things and we keep hold of the things that are good and change the things that are not – and there’s plenty of those. There’s literally no reason why we couldn’t fix those if we just put those into action. I’m hopeful for us making progress.”
‘So many notes’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/lewis-...ari-to-improve
Enzo Ferrari’s son issues ‘guarantee’ to Lewis Hamilton after dismal Qatar Grand Prix weekend
2 December 2025
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer
Piero Ferrari issues ‘guarantee’ to Lewis Hamilton that Ferrari will improve after torrid Qatar Grand Prix. He told RMC Motori: “After a race like this, there is little to say. It’s a blow and a punch in the stomach. It hurts to see Ferrari like this, but I console myself with the thought that there is still one race left, the last of the season, and then we can put this championship behind us. In the history of Ferrari, we have had ups and downs; that’s what happens in racing.”
“It doesn’t console me, but we have had worse moments and we have always managed to bounce back. I remember 1973 and the 1975 world championships after a growing season in 1974, the crisis of the 1990s and the subsequent triumphs. “It’s part of racing, so I’m confident we’ll recover. We have some things that haven’t worked, but I can guarantee that at Maranello we also have many other things that do work.”
“The hard part is putting them all together to get the most out of them, and I’m sure we’ll do that. I have faith in the good things we have at home, and as a fan, I hope we can put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Ferrari will return to winning ways, we will certainly not give up, I know the excellence we have at our disposal.”
‘Guarantee’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/enz...-prix-weekend/
Hamilton’s Ferrari Warning: Fix This, Or Else
December 3, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com
Headline: Hamilton’s bruising Ferrari debut ends with a thick notebook — and a warning. Lewis Hamilton didn’t come to Maranello for a season like this. One to go in 2025, and Ferrari is already locked to fourth in the Constructors’ standings, winless, and running out of ways to sugar-coat a campaign that never got off the ground. Hamilton’s response? A stack of notes big enough to wedge under a wobbly simulator. And a pointed message: there’s no reason these can’t be actioned.
“It’s definitely been the most challenging year both in and out of the car,” he said after a scrappy Las Vegas–Qatar double that summed up Ferrari’s fade. “I’ve got so many notes in terms of things we need to improve. Time will tell whether we act on those things… There’s literally no reason why we couldn’t fix those if we just put those into action. I’m hopeful for us making progress.” Hopeful, but hardly blind to reality. The last three rounds brought only 20 points for Ferrari across both cars, and the drop-off has been stark. Hamilton’s qualifying form deserted him at exactly the wrong time — last on the grid in Vegas, then a double Q1 exit in Qatar as set-up experiments sent the weekend sideways.
He started the Sprint from the pit lane and the Grand Prix from P17, scrapping to 12th at the flag and finishing 12 seconds behind Alex Albon’s Williams. The contrast hurt. Carlos Sainz, now leading Williams’ resurgence, logged his second podium of the year in Lusail. Hamilton admitted it “highlighted just how developed everybody else is and how undeveloped we are at this point of the year,” adding that he was nearly swallowed by the Stake and couldn’t live with the Williams on race pace. When a car in blue takes a trophy and Ferrari leaves with a shrug, Maranello takes notice.
‘A thick notebook — and a warning’:
https://fastestlap.com/news/hamilton...-this-or-else/
Jean Alesi slams Fred Vasseur’s ‘embarrassing’ excuse for Lewis Hamilton’s dire first Ferrari season
2 December 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer
Jean Alesi slams Fred Vasseur’s ‘very weak excuse’ that Ferrari focusing on 2026 ruined 2025. Having also failed to get a single Grand Prix podium during the first 23 rounds, Hamilton has called 2025 his “worst season ever” in F1. The seven-time champion has never failed to take a rostrum before, and he will set his worst total under the points system introduced in 2010.
Team principal Fred Vasseur suggested at the Qatar Grand Prix that Ferrari have struggled in 2025 as they shifted their development focus onto the 2026 F1 regulations back in April. Yet Jean Alesi thinks Vasseur offered a “very weak” excuse for the misery Ferrari have produced. “Ferrari’s attitude makes me think of an embarrassing attempt to protect this failure,” Alesi told Corriere della Sera, via quotes by Fanpage. He added: “Saying that all development was interrupted to prepare for next year’s car seems like a very weak excuse.”
‘Embarrassing’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jea...errari-season/
Lewis Hamilton’s ‘only hope’ identified after atrocious F1 season
Martin Brundle assesses a dismal weekend for Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton.
02 Dec 2025
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net
Martin Brundle believes Lewis Hamilton’s “only hope now” is that Ferrari ace the 2026 F1 regulation shake-up. “Ferrari had a miserable weekend which team boss Fred Vasseur has attributed to the very high tyre pressures mentioned earlier,” Brundle wrote in his latest Sky column.
“They lacked rear grip and general handling balance and are now confined to fourth in the Constructors' championship behind McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull. Charles Leclerc appeared to be fighting his car every corner of every lap to secure eighth place and Lewis Hamilton looked equally challenged and too had many adventures for an anonymous 12th place.”
“It's very difficult times for the Scuderia and particularly Lewis, who can only hope now that Ferrari do a great job on the massive 2026 regulation changes if he's going to add to any of the statistic tables in a positive way. Antonelli is just two points behind Hamilton in the championship, the man he replaced at Mercedes, and despite nine races in the wilderness it will sum up Lewis's year if the Italian teenager beats him to sixth in the championship.”
“Challenged and too had many adventures”;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/108774...ious-f1-season
Lewis Hamilton’s priceless response to Max Verstappen’s Qatar F1 win
Lewis Hamilton reacts to the latest twist in the 2025 F1 title race.
02 Dec 2025
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net
Seven-time world champion Hamilton endured another miserable race for Ferrari, finishing a lowly 12th. Afterwards, he admitted he had no idea who had won, and assumed Piastri had. “How's Max 12 behind now?” Hamilton asked upon being told the championship picture. “Max won? Oh, shoot, I didn't know, I had no idea. Wow, holy sh*t. No, no, I thought Piastri won, I don't know.”
When informed that Norris had only finished fourth, Hamilton responded: “Oh, really? Lando was fourth? Where’s Piastri?” Hamilton was then informed that Piastri finished second ahead of Carlos Sainz’s Williams. "So Oscar's third now [in the championship]?” Hamilton added. “Well that’s exciting! Goes right to the wire!”
Hamilton praised the job Verstappen has done this year to remain in the hunt, having remarkably reduced what was a 104-point deficit after the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August. “Well, we all know Max does a great job,” Hamilton said. “I think he's got a phenomenal team behind him, which there's no denying they've had the best car over the last four years. And maybe less so at the beginning of this year, but they somehow came back. He's obviously got a great car, but he does an amazing job with it, so I can't fault him.”
‘Priceless response’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/108773...s-qatar-f1-win
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Verstappen is only one McLaren blunder away from his fifth title.
Things keep going wrong at McLaren, where the first signs of championship pressure seem to be emerging.
1 Dec 2025
Tim Kraaij
GPblog.com
After the Qatar Grand Prix, Max Verstappen is just one slice of luck away from wrapping up his fifth world title. Even a seemingly hopeless position in Qatar ended up breaking his way. After qualifying for the GP in Qatar, the mood was gloomy. Although a pole position for Oscar Piastri was good news for the world title fight, a third place for Max Verstappen wasn’t enough to truly have hope for the result the Dutchman needed.
Although Verstappen saw the gap to Lando Norris shrink dramatically due to the disqualification of both McLarens in Las Vegas, the 24-point deficit was still large enough that Verstappen could already be eliminated from title contention in Qatar. After qualifying behind both McLarens, the title fight seemed over for Max.
But 24 hours later, the mood in the paddock had completely flipped. After yet another major blunder from McLaren, it was Verstappen who seized the victory and suddenly sits second in the championship. The gap to Norris is now just 12 points, leaving everything to fight for in Abu Dhabi.
‘Championship pressure seem(s) to be emerging’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/features/v...is-fifth-title
Verstappen now McLaren’s worst nightmare: ‘Call me Chucky’
30/11/2025
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
In the post-race press conference, Verstappen laughed off Brown’s comments — and even leaned into the metaphor. “You can call me Chucky,” he laughed, the Dutchman referencing the demonic ‘Child’s Play’ character. "I don’t know, I mean I saw it [Brown’s comments] as well, I thought it was quite funny. From my side I just focus on myself, you know…”
“I know that when I go in the car, I just try to do the best like I guess everyone does. That’s the only thing that I can control, right? And that’s the only thing that I focus on. I'm a lot more relaxed now,” he said. “I know that I'm 12 points down. I go in there with just positive energy, I try everything I can but at the same time if I don't win it, I still know that I had an amazing season. So it doesn't really matter. It takes a lot of the pressure off. I'm just out there having a good time like I had today.
“I also started today with 'oh, we'll see how it goes.' I know that when I sit in the car I will always maximise everything I can and that's what I'll try to do also in Abu Dhabi. But at the same time, I also know that we need to rely on probably some external factors to have a go at it. But a race like today shows that we think it's going to be boring and straightforward. It's not, so I'm hoping that Abu Dhabi is going to be similar.”
‘McLaren’s worst nightmare’;
https://f1i.com/news/555027-verstapp...me-chucky.html
Verstappen lands ‘another one’ McLaren quip after Qatar GP strategy error
30 Nov 2025
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
Earlier in the race weekend, Verstappen had suggested that he was only still in the title picture due to “other people’s failures”. Norris had responded by stating his “respect” for Verstappen, but added: “Max generally has a good clue about a lot of things. But, there’s also a lot of things he doesn’t have much of a clue about.” He suggested that “Red Bull’s way of going about things is this kind of aggressive nature and, yeah, just talking nonsense a lot of the time.”
Following his victory, Verstappen was asked whether McLaren’s Qatar strategy blooper supported his claim. “Another one, yeah,” he responded. “When they called me in, I had to look and remember that we were going into Lap 7. So I was like, ‘Okay, now we can go to the end,'” said Verstappen. “So then, yeah, I was a bit surprised once I did the whole pit stop, because, I mean, when they call you in, you’re focused on the box and making sure you’re not in trouble with releasing and whatever.”
“So when I came out of the pits, I was like, ‘Okay, I think this is a very good opportunity now for us to win the race.'” Asked if he thought, at that moment, that this was his race to lose, Verstappen replied: “I thought at that moment that there was a big chance of winning it, yeah. I don’t think about losing. That’s not in my head. I think about how to win.”
“Another one, yeah”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-ve...-quip-qatar-gp
‘Call me Chucky’: Max Verstappen revels in McLaren’s Qatar Grand Prix horror show
30 Nov 2025
The Straits Times
Formula One champion Max Verstappen revelled in McLaren’s strategy horror show at the Qatar Grand Prix on Nov 30 as the Red Bull driver won again, days after the team’s boss compared him to a movie monster who keeps on coming back. Verstappen passed Norris at the start and pitted from second on Lap 7 when the safety car was deployed, while the McLarens stayed out and paid the price... “We should have followed him in, no? If we knew the car in front was staying out?“ asked Norris on team radio. Norris would have won his maiden F1 crown with victory in Qatar.
That rocketed Verstappen up to second in the championship, 12 points behind Norris with only the Abu Dhabi finale remaining and four ahead of Piastri. At the end of August, the Dutch driver had been 104 points off Piastri’s lead. “I didn’t expect to win today, that’s for sure,” Verstappen told Sky Sports. “Looking at pure pace, we were not on the same level as McLaren, but we made the right call, as most of the grid did, in boxing under the safety car. That almost gives you a free pit stop and that made the race for me. For sure, that call at the pit stop made me win the race today.”
Red Bull reinforced that feeling by sending Hannah Schmitz, the team’s principal strategy engineer, up to the podium to share the 28-year-old Verstappen’s fizzy celebrations under the floodlights. Verstappen said he did not think McLaren had messed up by trying to be fair to both drivers, not wanting to disadvantage one over the other in the title battle if they had double-stacked them at a pit stop, but just made a wrong call. “It was about missing the whole pit-stop opportunity,” he said. “On pure pace they are faster, but as it showed today again, anything is possible.”
‘Red Bull reinforced that feeling by sending Hannah Schmitz, the team’s principal strategy engineer, up to the podium’;
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/f...ar-horror-show
Abu Dhabi F1 finale: History haunts McLaren, beckons for Verstappen
Dec 3, 2025
Laurence Edmondson
ESPN.co.uk
Strange things often happen when a Formula 1 title fight goes down to the final race of the season. Nerves ramp up, past form counts for nothing, and even the rules of the game -- such as how a race director implements the safety car procedure -- can get lost in the madness ... just ask Lewis Hamilton.
Logical advantages -- such as holding a 12-point margin at the top of the championship, like Lando Norris has over Max Verstappen -- can hold little comfort when you qualify out of position and line up on the grid needing to make up places to secure the title. Each setup decision over a weekend can snowball in the wrong direction or you could, simply, become the unwitting victim of someone else's accident, safety car or pit strategy gamble during the race.
And when there's more than two protagonists in the running -- like there is this year with Norris, Verstappen and Oscar Piastri all still mathematically in contention -- it's not unheard of for the outsider to emerge victorious. Minimizing pressure can sometimes be the easiest way to maximizing lap time. To borrow a phrase from legendary commentator Murray Walker: "Anything can happen in Formula 1, and it usually does."
‘Nerves ramp up, past form counts for nothing, and even the rules of the game’;
https://www.espn.co.uk/racing/f1/sto...max-verstappen
Don’t Blink: Norris, Verstappen, Piastri Decide It All
December 3, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com
Headline: Norris unmoved as Verstappen closes in: “He’s been the threat all year” Lando Norris walks into Yas Marina with a 12-point cushion and a clear conscience. Max Verstappen is close enough to make it interesting, Oscar Piastri is still in the fight, and McLaren’s title leader insists nothing changes for the finale. “We’ve treated Max like the threat since day one,” Norris said in Qatar, keeping his voice flat and his eyes on the bigger picture.
“Every race, every briefing — we know what he and Red Bull can do. So there’s no reason to act differently now.” It’s not posturing. Even when Verstappen looked miles back — 104 points off then-leader Piastri after the Dutch Grand Prix — McLaren never bought into the gap. They know how a championship unravels, and how quickly Verstappen tidies it back up. Over the final third of the season, the reigning champion has dragged himself into range and arrives in Abu Dhabi with a shot at a fifth consecutive title.
Norris can kill the suspense with a podium on Sunday. That’s the cleanest line through this. Verstappen’s win last time out tightened the screws, but it didn’t flip the narrative: the title is still Norris’s to lose. Verstappen, four points ahead of Piastri, must do what he usually does at Yas Marina — qualify up front, control the tempo, and pray McLaren blinks.
“We’ve treated Max like the threat since day one.. Every race, every briefing”;
https://fastestlap.com/news/dont-bli...decide-it-all/
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Australian politician raises Oscar Piastri-McLaren F1 title 'conspiracy'.
One Australian politician has raised the idea that McLaren is "biased" against Oscar Piastri in the F1 title fight.
3 December 2025
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365
In a committee meeting of the Australian Senate Rural, Regional Affairs, and Transportation Legislation Committee, Canavan asked secretary Jim Betts if McLaren "is biased" and "costing" Piastri the title.
"It’s been a bit of a frustrating night for some Australians,” said Canavan, a National Party senator for Queensland. "I don’t know who to ask this to, but you deal with transport and cars. So do you think McLaren is biased against Oscar Piastri and costing him the world championship?"
The hearing room then erupted into laughter as Betts tried his best not to answer the question, with Regional Affairs minister Anthony Chisholm then being asked. "I definitely think he's copped some raw decisions this year," came the reply.
‘Canavan asked secretary Jim Betts if McLaren "is biased" and "costing" Piastri the title’;
https://racingnews365.com/australian...tle-conspiracy
Piastri conspiracy theory reaches parliament
The debate over whether McLaren has shown bias against Oscar Piastri has jumped from social media threads to the floors of parliament.
3 Dec 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe
“It’s been a bit of a frustrating night for some Australians,” Canavan said as he raised the Qatar Grand Prix blunder that saw Piastri miss out on victory. “I don’t know who to ask this to, but you deal with transport and cars. So do you think McLaren is biased against Oscar Piastri and costing him the world championship?”
Betts avoided committing to an answer, prompting Canavan to turn to Regional Affairs Assistant Minister Anthony Chisholm. “I definitely think he’s copped some raw decisions this year,” Chisholm replied, noting his daughter, now “obsessed with F1,” would be “very upset when she gets up this morning.”
The exchange, delivered with clear humour, highlighted how strongly some fans believe Piastri has been disadvantaged in McLaren’s title fight. Those theories gained traction after Qatar, where McLaren’s decision not to pit Piastri and Norris under an early Safety Car allowed Max Verstappen to claim a victory Piastri had appeared set to convert from pole.
‘The floors of parliament’;
https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-o...m-bias-claims/
‘Looking for his crew’: McLaren questioned as Piastri fan footage raises eyebrows
Piastri in pit lane, where is McLaren?
December 3rd, 2025
Tyson Otto from News.com.au
Fox Sports (Australia)
Oscar Piastri’s team has come into question after fan footage showed Piastri getting congratulated by the pit crew of a rival team following Monday morning’s dramatic Qatar Grand Prix. McLaren engineers and officials continue to come under fire from F1 commentators after the team’s race strategy blew up in its face at the Lusail circuit.
The way the race unfolded poured fuel on speculation that McLaren has a favouritism for British driver Norris. Such a conclusion could be drawn after fan footage of Piastri showed a lack of McLaren staff when he parked his MCL39 in parc ferme following the race. An elated Verstappen climbed out of his Red Bull and performed a swan dive into the arms of waiting team members as the team celebrated the unlikely win. There appeared to be at least 10 Red Bull team members roaring and first-pumping.
Williams driver Carlos Sainz, who recorded just his second podium with the team, was celebrating wildly with up to 20 members of the team screaming behind the fence. Piastri, meanwhile, looked far lonelier following the disappointing result. The 24-year-old cut a dejected figure as he was seen walking to the fence for a brief stop before walking over and congratulating Verstappen and Sainz. Footage showed Piastri getting congratulated by members of the Williams team, with his own crew not visible on the live Fox Sports broadcast.
‘Looking for his crew’;
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...9d570704ed96cc
Oscar Piastri set for critical Abu Dhabi disadvantage as McLaren replacement named
Oscar Piastri has no choice but to sit out Free Practice 1 at the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
3 December 2025
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365
McLaren has confirmed that Pato O'Ward is to deputise for Oscar Piastri in Free Practice 1 at the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Piastri has no choice but to miss the opening 60 minutes of practice at Yas Marina, as he has only filled one of the two mandatory slots for his car to be handed over to a rookie driver.
For Piastri to be crowned champion, he must finish in the top two. If he wins, he moves to 417 points, so he requires Norris to be sixth (eight points) or lower, with Verstappen's result irrelevant. If Piastri is second, he moves to 410 points, meaning Norris must be 10th or lower (one point), with Verstappen fourth or lower (12 points).
‘Critical Abu Dhabi disadvantage’;
https://racingnews365.com/oscar-pias...lacement-named
‘Worst ever seen’: Insiders lift lid on ‘disgusting’ Piastri treatment... as ex-F1 champ makes big claim
Piastri in pit lane, where is McLaren?
December 4th, 2025
Fox Motorsport from Fox Sports
Fox Sports (Australia)
An F1 insider has lifted the lid on the perceived bias against Oscar Piastri in an explosive report, while a former F1 world champion believes all the outside noise is starting to get to the Australian. Villeneuve even suggested that if Piastri was in a position where he was asked to listen to team orders he may not be so willing to do so this time around with the title on the line. “Will Piastri help Norris win the championship if he can’t? No, because until the last lap Piastri could still win the championship,” Villeneuve said. “On the last lap, both Max and Norris could blow an engine.”
Villeneuve’s comments came as a report from CODE Sports lifted the lid on the tense situation at McLaren, including one sight at last weekend’s Qatar Prix that didn’t go unnoticed. While McLaren’s botched strategy cost Piastri a shot at the win, he still was able to get onto the podium in second place. However, Piastri was joined by just two members of the McLaren crew in contrast to the dozens that are usually in attendance. According to the CODE Sports report, Piastri noticed it too and words were exchanged behind closed doors.
One veteran UK reporter told the publication that Piastri’s mistreatment was the worst he’d ever seen towards a top driver, while a F1 insider called the bias against the Australian “unquestionable”. “It’s disgusting to see what’s happening. It’s like he’s fighting with one arm tied behind his back,” the insider said. “He’s constantly being undermined by the team.”
'Insiders lift lid on ‘disgusting’ Piastri treatment...';
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...02e1edc99ff5b7
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Bernie Ecclestone lists five reasons why Lando Norris will lose the 2025 F1 title to Max Verstappen.
“Lando is fine, a really good driver, but he is over-confident, too cocky, believing his own publicity, but he gets nervous at crunch moments and can’t quite deliver the way Max can when the pressure is on.”
4 December 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
McLaren are trying to protect Norris at all costs, but Bernie Ecclestone has given a variety of reasons why he thinks Verstappen is going to secure a fifth consecutive title in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. Ecclestone was speaking to the Daily Mail ahead of another season finale, and asked who he thinks will win the championship.
He said: “I still believe Max will do it. He deserves it. I used to say Alain Prost was the best driver of all time, doing it on his own without a radio to the pit wall telling him what to do, but I think Max is the best I have known. He stands alone.”
‘McLaren have been very helpful to Lando over Oscar, supporting him over the other guy, such as changing them around in Monza after Lando had a bad pit stop, and that way of working may yet be good for them, I don’t know. It’s not what I would have done. A bad pit stop is part of racing. You have to accept it, not engineer it.”
‘Nervous at crunch moments’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ber...ax-verstappen/
Bernie Ecclestone questions “too cocky” Lando Norris in 2025 F1 title fight
Bernie Ecclestone has his say on the 2025 F1 title race
04 Dec 2025
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone believes Max Verstappen will seal the championship in Abu Dhabi, casting doubt over Lando Norris’ ability to deliver under pressure. The 95-year-old has never been shy about giving strong opinions on F1. Giving his view on the 2025 title fight, Ecclestone said Verstappen “deserves” the championship and criticised Norris for being “over confidence” and “too cocky”.
“Too cocky”;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/108779...f1-title-fight
Bernie Ecclestone reveals why he believes Max Verstappen will pip 'cocky' Lando Norris to the title this weekend
3 December 2025
JONATHAN MCEVOY
MailOnline
Formula One’s Godfather Bernie Ecclestone has declared that Max Verstappen will spoil the dreams of a ‘cocky’ Lando Norris, acclaiming the Dutchman as the best driver the sport has ever known. ‘I still believe Max will do it. He deserves it. I used to say Alain Prost was the best driver of all time, doing it on his own without a radio to the pit wall telling him what to do, but I think Max is the best I have known. He stands alone.’
‘Lando is fine, a really good driver, but he is over-confident, too cocky, believing his own publicity, but he gets nervous at crunch moments and can’t quite deliver the way Max can when the pressure is on.” In a sign of his heightened anxiety, however, Norris has reaaranged his schedule by pulling out of his customary briefing with the British press for the first time in his 152 races, to concentrate on the task in hand.
‘In a sign of his heightened anxiety’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...do-Norris.html
Sainz: Norris’s Title to Lose—Unless Yas Marina Strikes
December 4, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com
Carlos Sainz backs Norris for title — with a pointed warning about Yas Marina. Carlos Sainz thinks Lando Norris has the title right where he wants it — but he’s not pretending a Sunday podium at Yas Marina is ever straightforward, even in a McLaren.
The Williams driver, who shared a garage (and a fair bit of golf) with Norris at McLaren in 2019–20, expects the Abu Dhabi layout to play to his former teammate’s strengths as this three way championship fight lands on the final square. Norris arrives 12 points clear of Max Verstappen with Oscar Piastri four further back; finish on the podium and the Briton can lock up his first world title regardless of what the others do.
“I’ll be watching very closely,” Sainz said in Abu Dhabi. “Everyone knows how well I get on with Lando — I wish him the best possible outcome. I also have a lot of respect for Max and Oscar. But if the finale had to be anywhere for Lando, it’s here.”
‘Lando Norris has the title right where he wants it’;
https://fastestlap.com/news/sainz-no...arina-strikes/
Norris faces nerve-shredding three-way scrap to claim maiden title
December 4, 2025
France 24
Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Lando Norris will battle his own nerves as much as his rivals' speed as he bids to end Max Verstappen's four-year reign as F1 world champion in Sunday's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
After two weekends of self-inflicted setbacks, championship leader Norris and his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri need an error-free event to ensure Red Bull's number one cannot complete a spectacular end-of-season recovery in glorious style. On paper, it is Norris's title to lose, but history – recent and past – shows anything can happen when the stakes are at their highest.
In 2010, for example, Ferrari's two-time champion Fernando Alonso arrived with an eight-point lead on Red Bull's Mark Webber with his team-mate Sebastian Vettel 15 adrift in third ahead of McLaren's Lewis Hamilton. Vettel took pole position and won, Hamilton was second and Alonso and Webber seventh and eighth.
‘Nerve-shredding three-way scrap’;
https://www.france24.com/en/live-new...m-maiden-title
Norris take note: The F1 points leader usually loses three-way title fights
2025 Qatar Grand Prix stats and facts
3rd December 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
No driver in Norris’s situation has won the title in the last 50 years, though this of course reflects on the scarcity of championship deciders involving more than two drivers:
Year Champion Position before final race Rivals
1950 Giuseppe Farina 3rd Juan Manuel Fangio, Luigi Fagioli
1959 Jack Brabham 1st Stirling Moss, Tony Brooks
1964 John Surtees 2nd Graham Hill, Jim Clark
1968 Graham Hill 1st Jackie Stewart, Denny Hulme
1974 Emerson Fittipaldi 1st Clay Regazzoni, Jody Scheckter
1981 Nelson Piquet 2nd Carlos Reutemann, Jacques Laffite
1983 Nelson Piquet 2nd Alain Prost, Rene Arnoux
1986 Alain Prost 2nd Nigel Mansell, Nelson Piquet
2007 Kimi Raikkonen 3rd Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso
2010 Sebastian Vettel 3rd Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, Lewis Hamilton
‘No driver in Norris’s situation has won the title in the last 50 years’;
https://www.racefans.net/2025/12/03/...-title-fights/
David Croft thinks Oscar Piastri could use controversial tactic to beat Lando Norris at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
3 December 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
David Croft says Oscar Piastri could back Lando Norris into the pack. McLaren aren’t planning to impose team orders this weekend because both of their drivers can still mathematically win the title. This stance could change in race if Piastri’s hopes disappear entirely.
One pundit has suggested that Piastri will try to ‘trip up’ Norris to show his ‘dissatisfaction’ with the McLaren management. But Croft has no doubt that he will ‘play the team game’ based on a conversation earlier in the season. However, he does think that, if Piastri gets into the lead and Norris is second, the Australian might start lowering his pace, which would push his teammate into the clutches of the cars behind.
“I can see Oscar winning the race, I can see a Lewis Hamilton/Nico Rosberg 2016 scenario, where Oscar doesn’t go quite as fast and might back his teammate up into the pack. That is absolutely acceptable, and I would expect nothing less. But I think Lando will emerge as champion with Oscar winning the race.”
‘Controversial tactic’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/dav...bi-grand-prix/
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F1 - 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Thursday Press Conference Transcript.
04.12.25
FIA (Press Release)
Q: Tell us about your preparations and how you're going to approach the season finale. Lando, perhaps we could start with you.
Lando NORRIS: Sure. Same as every weekend. Nothing changed. Of course, just some reviews of last weekend, like the same after every weekend really—review what went on, what was clearly and obviously not good for us, some of the mistakes we’ve made, and also the less obvious things that we could improve on. But that’s normal post-race understandings and therefore preparations for the next race. But otherwise, nothing does change. I mean, it gets treated the same from everyone inside the team. Just more excitement, I guess, for everyone at the same time. But apart from that, the work and how you approach it all remains the same
Max VERSTAPPEN: Spent some time with my daughter, figured some stuff out for GT3 for next year, figured out some stuff for my sim team as well, planning for next year. So, yeah, just pretty straightforward stuff before arriving here, to be honest.
Oscar PIASTRI: I mean, I wasn’t organising GT3 teams, but I played some padel, and just treated it like normal. Obviously, there’s not that many days in between. Had a marketing day, so that was good fun, and that’s been about it.
Q: (Marina Becker – TV Bandeirantes): I just wanted to know if your parents are here, and some friends, and did you allow them to come, or did you ask them to come?
LN: A mix. I mean, it’s end of season. Every year I invite some of my friends because they’re just as important as the rest in terms of – a lot of my friends support me every weekend, support me every week, cheer for me. I always lean on my friends for advice and help in different moments. So yeah, win or lose, end of the season, it’s always nice to share it with them. But I do that every year, so it’s nothing special from that point of view. And my parents come to many races, and they’re here again because it’s the final one – not because of it being a good one or a bad one or whatever it may be. They come to the final race of the season every time. So, a little mix, but no, I want them to be there because it’s a moment again, win or lose, it’s a moment where I just want to share every bit that I can with my friends, with my family, because it’s also fun for them.
MV: No. Parents are not here. My dad is rallying in Africa. And my mom… Yeah, I guess it was not planned. I also didn’t really plan to be in the title fight till the end. So, yeah, here we are. Yeah, I think after Zandvoort everything was a bit cancelled, I would say. My mom is at home happy with the dogs. So yeah. You can see a lot on TV anyway.
OP: Yeah, my family is here. Kind of similar to Lando in some ways. It’s the last race. I’ve done a lot of racing without any of my family and friends in my career, so it is always nice to have them there. But it doesn’t change the world, let’s say. It is nice, obviously, but I know some people actually prefer it when their parents aren’t there or they don’t have people around. But for me, it is a nice thing.
Q: (Scott Mitchell-Malm – The Race) It’s a question to all three, starting with Max. In terms of dealing with the weight of the occasion—you’ve obviously been here and done it. And compared to 2021 in particular, how are you feeling about it in terms of tension or whatever? Because I think I remember in '21 you said you ended up driving with cramp during the Grand Prix because it was obviously so stressful. And then for the two McLaren drivers—how are you dealing with the pressure?
MV: I’m very relaxed. Nothing to lose, you know? So, I’m just enjoying being here. But for me, it’s not even about being here. I’ve been enjoying the second half of the season, working with the team, how we’ve been able to turn it around from difficult times and really having a debrief after the race, being very disappointed and frustrated with the performances to just enjoying, smiling. Having these wins again is fantastic. So, I just take it – everything here is just a bonus, sitting here fighting for the title. So that’s also what makes it very straightforward for me. We will just try to have a good weekend. But then even then, it’s not really in my control, you know? So we just, yeah, like I said, try to enjoy it.
LN: Similar. I know I’ve obviously not been in this situation before, so pretty different, I guess, for both of us. But at the minute, I feel good. Like, I really don’t think of it at all until you guys ask it all the time. So, it’s trying to avoid you guys as much as possible! But that’s also part of the job. So it’s nothing new. It’s nothing that shocks me. Whatever. I come into the weekend not thinking of it. For the last three days, just playing some golf and being with my mates and having a good time. And I look forward to doing that on Monday, whether I’m hungover or not. So, yeah, really it is the same, and I think it’ll be the same on track as how I’ve been the last few weeks. As much as there’s been pressure the last few weeks, I’ve still felt comfortable and I still feel good in the car. So, just yeah. All good.
OP: Yeah, I’m relaxed. I’ve been on the opposite side of the championship battle in the junior categories, and I know what that felt and it was pretty tough. So, coming into it from, you know, the least to lose out of us three is quite different for me. And I think off the back of Qatar, I’ve got a lot of confidence that I can perform well. Obviously, I need a fair few things to happen this weekend to come out champion, but I’ll just make sure I’m in the right place at the right time and see what happens.
‘Preparations, support, dealing with the weight of the occasion’;
https://www.fia.com/news/f1-2025-abu...nce-transcript
Seven things we've learned from first day of F1's Abu Dhabi GP
Dec 4, 2025
The Race
Antonelli reveals Verstappen message after online abuse: "He saw what happened, he wasn't bothered by anything [he saw]," said Antonelli of Verstappen. "He even, like, showed support, so, really-really nice from him. He just said... I cannot really say what he said because it contained some bad words, the message, but it just said 'don't worry about these kind of people, because they're brainless...just focus on the job'." - Valentin Khorounzhiy
McLaren's big team order admission: A perfect weekend for Norris will make it unnecessary, but McLaren has to have those tough conversations with its drivers pre-race in the unlikely - but not impossible - event that team orders are the only thing that can stop Verstappen from stealing away the title. - Josh Suttill.
What rivals make of the title fight: "Abu Dhabi is a Lando track," Sainz said. "He's not lucky but I think he's...It's good for him that I think the final is in Abu Dhabi, which from my experience, being his team mate here, it's one of his best tracks at driving and the win he took last year in front of me still hurts.
Williams team-mate Alex Albon cited Norris's "really impressive" second half of the season, while Leclerc believes "if nothing big happens, it will be Lando".
Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto believes Max Verstappen "deserves the title", having proved he's one of the best drivers in the world this year.
‘Seven things we've learned’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/s...-abu-dhabi-gp/
Charles Leclerc names Ferrari wish to avoid 'quite depressing' F1 send-off
4 Dec 2025
Jake Nichol & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365
Charles Leclerc believes a podium in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix can avoid sending Ferrari into the F1 Christmas break on a "quite depressing" final two races. This is something Leclerc felt was "unrealistic" but that a podium was possible to ensure "happiness" heading into the winter.
"On the one hand, yes, but at the same time, I'm just looking forward to Abu Dhabi to try and finish the season on a more positive note," Leclerc told media when asked by RacingNews365 if he was glad 2025 was nearly over. I'm hoping to give us a little bit more happiness to go into the holidays because it would be quite depressing to go into the holidays after two weekends like [Qatar and Abu Dhabi.”
"That would be very bad, but I just want to get [Abu Dhabi] out of the way, but in a positive way. I just want to do absolutely everything in order to extract whatever is left in our car, and hopefully jump on the podium one last time this year. A win is quite unrealistic, but a podium, I really hope so, but to be honest, after a race [like Qatar], I have very little hope."
“Jump on the podium”;
https://racingnews365.com/charles-le...ng-f1-send-off
How did McLaren let the title race get this far?! | The F1 Show
Dec 2, 2025
Sky Sports F1
‘How did McLaren let the title race get this far…’;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YWIZT7RFPY
What time is F1's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix? Qualifying + race times
Dec 3, 2025
The Race
Abu Dhabi GP schedule (local time)
Abu Dhabi, part of the United Arab Emirates, is on Gulf Standard Time and is four hours ahead of GMT (UK time).
Friday December 5
FP1: 1.30pm
FP2: 5pm
Saturday December 6
FP3: 2.30pm
Qualifying: 6pm
Sunday December 7
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: 5pm
Abu Dhabi GP schedule (UK time)
Friday December 5
FP1: 9.30am
FP2: 1pm
Saturday December 6
FP3: 10.30am
Qualifying: 2pm
Sunday December 7
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: 1pm
‘All the times for this weekend's action’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f...ng-race-times/
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Lando Norris draws first blood in title fight against Max Verstappen in FP1 at 2025 Abu Dhabi GP.
Lando Norris draws the first blood of the weekend-deciding F1 title fight by edging Max Verstappen in FP1 at the 2025 Abu Dhabi GP, setting the tone for an intense finale between the championship’s contenders.
5 December 2025
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport
Holding a 12-point advantage heading into Sunday, December 7, the McLaren driver delivered when it mattered with a 1:24.485 lap good enough to shade Red Bull’s defending champion by just 0.008. That could be key establishing an early psychological edge at Yas Marina on Friday, as the pair look to contend for the Formula 1 title in the United Arab Emirates, whilst Oscar Piastri could only watch on.
The Australian sat out the opening hour as part of his mandated rookie handover, leaving Pato O’Ward to step into the McLaren leaving Charles Leclerc to slot into third, only 0.016s adrift, whilst Kimi Antonelli continued his fine recent form with a strong fourth.
With 15 minutes left, Norris delivered what proved the session’s benchmark whilst Leclerc maintained third for Ferrari despite a hefty spin that led to some fraternal banter from his brother, Arthur. At the same time, Verstappen radioed concerns that there “might be something broken” and said the problem was “everywhere,” on his car, prompting concern from his fans around the world – although he continued circulating.
‘First blood’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/lan...-abu-dhabi-gp/
2025 F1 Abu Dhabi GP – Free Practice 1 Results
5 December 2025
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport
Pos. Driver Team Time/Gap
1. Lando Norris McLaren 1:24.485
2. Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.008
3. Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.016
4. Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.123
5. Nico Hulkenberg Sauber +0.144
6. George Russell Mercedes +0.248
7. Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber +0.257
8. Oliver Bearman Haas +0.274
9. Carlos Sainz Williams +0.286
10. Franco Colapinto Alpine +0.370
‘Free Practice 1’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/202...ice-1-results/
Max second fastest in Abu Dhabi FP1
5 December 2025
Stefan Meens
Verstappen.nl
Max Verstappen set the second fastest time in the first practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Oracle Red Bull Racing driver was only 0.008s slower than pace setter Lando Norris (McLaren). Charles Leclerc completed the top three.
As the session gets underway, Max heads out on the hard Pirelli tyres and is immediately on the pace. Only Lando Norris is quicker in the first half of the session, but the McLaren has set his time on the medium compound.
At the halfway point, Max switches from the hards, straight to the softs and goes quickest (1:24.493). Again, only Norris is able to lap the Yas Marina circuit quicker than the Dutchman and does so by 0.008s.
‘Max second fastest’;
https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/6041/
F1 – Norris tops FP1in Abu Dhabi ahead of Verstappen as title showdown gets underway
05.12.25
FIA (Press Release)
It was Verstappen who set the early pace in the session with a 1:27.130s on the Hard tyre, 0.038s ahead of George Russell on the same compound. There was a variety of compounds on display, however, and Medium-shod Norris took his turn at the top as the opening half hours saw a number of drivers have a moment in P1, including Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar who will replace Tsunoda at Red Bull Racing in 2026.
The field then began to move to the C5 Soft compound tyres for performance running and Verstappen once again made his way to P1 with a lap of 1:24.493s, two hundredths of a second ahead of Norris and almost a tenth ahead of third-placed Ferrari regular Charles Leclerc. Norris and Verstappen then traded best times before Norris eventually cemented himself into P1 with a lap of 1:24.485s that left him 0.008s clear of his championship rival. Leclerc completed the top three with a lap 1:24.501s, 0.016s behind Norris.
‘Norris tops FP1in’;
https://www.fia.com/news/f1-norris-t...-gets-underway
Zak Brown makes 'crazy' decision over McLaren F1 team orders at Abu Dhabi GP
Both McLaren drivers enter the Abu Dhabi F1 race weekend with a chance of winning the drivers' championship.
5 December 2025
Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365
Speaking to Sky F1 in Abu Dhabi, Brown highlighted it will implement team orders if it becomes clear during the race that one driver is clearly holding the upper hand. “Yes, of course,” he said. “We're realistic. We want to win this drivers' championship. We're coming into the weekend knowing that they both have equal opportunity, even though there's obviously a point spread.”
"You don't know how qualifying is going to go, reliability, but if we get into the race and it's becoming pretty clear that one has a chance and the other doesn't, we're going to do what we can to win the drivers' championship. It would be crazy not to.”
"We want to win the drivers' championship. So, we'll kind of see how the race plays out, but we're not going to not win the championship because we're trying to protect a third and a fourth or a sixth and a seventh, or however the situation may play out."
‘Zak Brown makes 'crazy' decision’;
https://racingnews365.com/zak-brown-...t-abu-dhabi-gp
Abu Dhabi GP: Norris edges Verstappen in opening practice
05/12/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
Lando Norris opened the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend in commanding fashion, topping the first practice session at Yas Marina on the cusp of becoming Formula 1 world champion. The McLaren driver clocked a 1m24.485s on soft tyres, edging championship rival Max Verstappen by just 0.008s while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed the top three, just 0.016s adrift.
Norris arrives in Abu Dhabi 12 points clear of Verstappen and 16 ahead of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri. A podium on Sunday would seal his maiden title regardless of what Verstappen achieves. Piastri, however, played no part in FP1 due to regulations requiring teams to hand their car to a rookie in at least two Friday sessions. His seat went to IndyCar star Pato O’Ward, one of nine rookies in action on a hot and clear afternoon in the UAE.
With the season finale underway, cars flooded the track early. Verstappen set the first meaningful benchmark – a 1m27.130s on hard tyres – narrowly ahead of George Russell. Not everyone ran the same programme, with O’Ward immediately on softs and Norris on mediums, prompting a mixed early order shaped by rapid track evolution.
‘Commanding fashion’;
https://f1i.com/news/555415-abu-dhab...-practice.html
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Lando Norris tops Abu Dhabi Grand Prix FP2 with Oscar Piastri out of the top 10.
Title leader Lando Norris topped the timings for the first practice session on Friday, just two hundredths of a second ahead of the other championship rival, Max Verstappen.
5 December 2025
Rebecca Braybrook
F1 Oversteer
Lando Norris was the fastest in FP2 as Oscar Piastri struggled to put a fast soft tyre lap together during McLaren’s qualifying practice runs. The second practice is the most representative session for qualifying and race pace, with conditions similar to those that will be seen in the later weekend sessions, making it incredibly important for drivers and teams.
Early in FP2, Verstappen was noted for impeding Norris at Turn 1, after Red Bull appeared unsure if the Brit was starting a flying lap. Norris sounded unimpressed on the radio, asking, “what is this guy doing?”, although stewards were quick to decide there would be no further action for the incident. Verstappen was the first championship driver to bolt on the soft tyres, with the Dutchman setting a strong time of 1:23.446, which was two tenths of a second ahead of Isack Hadjar.
McLaren then brought their drivers in to begin qualifying practice runs, with Norris clinching the top time from Verstappen by three tenths. Piastri went for a second flying lap on his soft tyres after a difficult first run; however, the Aussie saw a big lock-up at Turn 6, which kept him in 10th place. The title contender had made improvements in sectors one and three compared to his McLaren teammate, but appeared not to have the same straight-line speed as Norris.
‘Lando Norris was the fastest in FP2’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/lan...of-the-top-10/
2025 F1 Abu Dhabi GP – Free Practice 2 Results
5 December 2025
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport
Red Bull faces a crucial night of setup work, while Piastri continues to adapt, aiming to support Norris in a title-deciding weekend.
Pos. Driver Team Time/Gap
1. Lando Norris McLaren 1:23.083
2. Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.363
3. George Russell Mercedes +0.379
4. Oliver Bearman Haas +0.418
5. Nico Hulkenberg Sauber +0.467
6. Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber +0.487
7. Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +0.574
8. Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.575
9. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.625
10. Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.667
‘Free Practice 2 Results’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/202...ice-2-results/
Lando Norris ‘almost crashed’ with Max Verstappen as Abu Dhabi GP team radio emerges
5 Dec 2025
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
McLaren driver Lando Norris was heard claiming over team radio that he “almost crashed” into Max Verstappen after a minor impeding incident in FP2 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Verstappen slowed on the main straight after completing a timed lap with his Red Bull race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, initially informing him that Norris was not on a push lap behind. Lambiase told Verstappen: “You’ve got Norris… not opening a lap behind you.” However, Lambiase then realised that Norris actually was on a fast lap, adding: “Or maybe he is… coming through.”
The confusion left Verstappen with little time to react to the fast-approaching McLaren, with the Red Bull jinking to the left of the track on the exit of Turn 1. Norris was less than impressed by the incident, claiming over team radio that the pair nearly made contact. The McLaren driver was heard saying: “What’s this guy doing? Almost crashed.” The incident was briefly noted by Race Control, with the FIA stewards taking no further action.
‘The confusion’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/lando-...-prix-2025-fp2
Abu Dhabi GP: Norris stamps his authority in FP2 as a lock up costs Piastri
05 Dec 2025
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Lando Norris made a perfect start to the Abu Dhabi title decider as he finished Friday’s practices comfortably quickest by three-tenths ahead of Max Verstappen. On the other side of the McLaren garage, Oscar Piastri was off the pace a mistake at Turn 6 cost the Australian and left him down in 11th place.
As the sun set over the Yas Marina circuit, the track temperature dropped ahead of FP2 with conditions more in line with what the drivers will experience in qualifying and the grand prix. The first of the frontrunners to swap to the soft Pirellis, Verstappen went quickest with a 1:23.446 ahead of Nico Hulkenberg. Carlos Sainz complained about a “weird snap Turn 2”, and Bearman wasn’t happy about an “unsafe release from a Sauber”.
Norris hit the front midway through the session with a 1:23.083, three-tenths on Verstappen with Russell third. Piastri was down in 10th place. He had a huge lock-up into Turn 6 on his second flying lap.
‘Stamps his authority’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/abu-dh...025-fp2-report
Is Oscar Piastri feeling the pressure at 2025 Abu Dhabi GP? F1 title contender weighs in
Piastri is 16 points off the championship lead at the Yas Marina Circuit.
5 December 2025
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport
Oscar Piastri says he is not feeling the pressure at the 2025 Abu Dhabi GP due to his experience in previous motorsport title battles, and the limited odds of him winning anyway. “I’ve been on the opposite side of the championship battle in the junior categories,” Piastri told media, including Total-Motorsport.com. “And I know what that felt and it was pretty tough.
“So, coming into it from the least to lose out of us three is quite different for me. And I think off the back of Qatar, I’ve got a lot of confidence that I can perform well. Obviously, I need a fair few things to happen this weekend to come out champion, but I’ll just make sure I’m in the right place at the right time and see what happens.”
Piastri knows it isn’t over until it’s over, and his tall order in the F3 campaign proves that he can still win the title, even from what seems to be an unthinkable position. “So yeah, obviously it would be a very cool achievement. But I’m not getting my hopes up too high. We’ll see what happens. And yeah, if I can achieve it, then I’ll be a pretty happy guy.”
‘Oscar Piastri says he is not feeling the pressure’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/is-...der-weighs-in/
Max Verstappen sceptical of Red Bull pace at F1 Abu Dhabi GP
5 December 2025
Motorsport Week
Max Verstappen appeared sceptical of Red Bull’s pace ahead of this weekend’s Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which will decide the Drivers’ title. Speaking after practice, Verstappen told Sky Sports F1 that the RB21 is responding relatively well to him, but not enough to envisage a likelihood of challenging the McLarens.
“[The car was] Pretty okay, I mean I was fairly happy with the car, we just need to be probably a little bit faster,” he said. “I think, yeah, still not quick enough, but I think overall we’ve been in a, for us, I think in a decent window around here.”
“Seems like it’s a decent gap that we need to close, but from our side we’ll just try to put the best car forward, and yeah, let’s see how much we can find overnight,” he added. Verstappen concluded that the “single lap and long run needs to be better” if he is to be left feeling happy about his chances.
‘Sceptical of Red Bull’s pace’;
https://f1i.com/news/555439-abu-dhab...erstappen.html
Lando Norris has ‘nothing to smile about just yet’ despite ominous Abu Dhabi GP pace
05 Dec 2025
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com
McLaren driver Lando Norris has warned there’s “nothing to smile about just yet” despite topping both Friday practice sessions at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Asked about how the car feels, Norris took time to respond, taking a breath before replying: “Obviously from the times and everything, things are good at the minute, but I still want a bit more from the car.”
“We’re a bit in the middle of trying some different things and then trying to understand some things with the car, so hopefully some more stuff we can get out of it overnight. But it’s not been a bad day, for sure. It’s been a positive day, but we always know it gets a lot closer going into quali, so nothing to smile about just yet.”
‘Norris took time to respond, taking a breath before replying’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/lando-...x-fp2-reaction
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Piastri confident for pole despite difficult Friday in Abu Dhabi.
Oscar Piastri says he is “finding my feet” after a reduced Friday workload in Abu Dhabi but believes he has a “pretty good” chance of fighting for pole in on Saturday.
6 Dec 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe
Despite the headline position, Piastri emerged upbeat. He admitted his soft-tyre run cost him time but felt the underlying pace was strong. “I think I got there pretty well on the medium [tyres] – just the softs didn’t get the most out of the grip on that first timed lap,” he said. “Finding my feet, I think, but clearly some things to try and improve for tomorrow. But I think after just one session, not too bad.”
Asked whether he felt capable of fighting for the top spot again, Piastri did not hesitate. “I think pretty good,” he said. “I think the car’s looked quick – just need to get some more laps under my belt and find my feet a bit more really, that’s all. A few more laps tomorrow, a few more sets of tyres, hopefully we’ll be there.”
‘Fighting for pole’;
https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-a...onship-battle/
Piastri aims for 'small tweaks' to overturn near 7-tenth deficit to Norris
05 Dec 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com
Oscar Piastri ended FP2 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix outside the top ten. Piastri returned to the car in the afternoon, effectively starting his weekend from FP2, but ultimately finished the day in eleventh, unable to put together a competitive lap on the softs and running slower than both his teammate and Max Verstappen over race pace.
"I think it's more just little details. The car feels like it's in a pretty decent place, just didn't get the grip out of it in that first soft lap. Some small tweaks, of course. (It) didn't feel perfect out there, but nothing major.”
'Small tweaks';
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/piast...t-in-abu-dhabi
Piastri ‘finding feet’ in Abu Dhabi as he predicts ‘pretty good’ chance of fighting for pole
Oscar Piastri set the 11th quickest time during Free Practice 2 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the McLaren driver having sat out the day's opening session while rookie Pato O'Ward took his place.
05 Dec 2025
Formula One - Official Site
Looking ahead to Saturday’s Qualifying, Piastri – who claimed his sixth career pole position last time out in Qatar – is hopeful about his chances of putting himself at the front of the grid again this weekend.
“I think pretty good,” he answered when asked about his prospects of battling for pole. “I think the car’s looked quick – just need to get some more laps under my belt and find my feet a bit more really, that’s all. A few more laps tomorrow, a few more sets of tyres, hopefully we’ll be there.”
‘Finding feet’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...ALG1LqjwXsT8Hu
Piastri unconcerned at ending Friday practice 11th after missing first session
5th December 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
Oscar Piastri was satisfied with his car’s balance despite ending the second practice session 11th and missing the first. The championship contender had to miss the first hour of practice so McLaren could run a junior driver in his car for the second time this year, as required by the rules.
First practice at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix tends to be unrepresentative of the competitive sessions as it takes place earlier in the day when the track is hotter. Piastri made a mistake on his final run on the soft tyres in the second session but said he was happy with his car’s balance on the harder rubber.
‘Piastri unconcerned’;
https://www.racefans.net/2025/12/05/...first-session/
‘It is possible’: relaxed Piastri holds firm in title bid
Oscar Piastri insists he can still win the 2025 drivers’ championship, taking a sliver of confidence from how previous multi-driver finales have played out.
5 Dec 2025
Ben Waterworth
Formula One - Official Site
When asked by Speedcafe whether it was encouraging that the last two title deciders involving at least three contenders were won by the driver entering third, Piastri admitted it offered a small boost. “[It’s] a nice stat to have, given that I’m in that position,” he said. “But just because history has gone that way once doesn’t mean it will again.”
“So, I’m certainly not leaning on that, but maybe it gives me the tiniest amount of comfort that it is possible.” The Australian added that the wave of support from home has been impossible to ignore — especially after his name was mentioned in the Australian Senate this week during a light-hearted exchange about McLaren’s strategy calls. “I did see it reach Parliament,” he said. “Yeah, that’s quite impressive.”
“I think the support from back home has been really special. I obviously don’t see a huge amount of it. I’ve not being back to Australia since the grand prix but I think the fact that Formula 1 and regardless of why it was in Parliament, the fact that my name is in Parliament in Australia is pretty cool in some ways. A pretty cool thing. And I guess it signifies the magnitude of the support and the following that we’ve had back home. So that’s very, very cool to see, and I’ll try my best to bring it home for everyone.”
“I did see it reach Parliament”;
https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-o...bi-grand-prix/
Oscar Piastri’s camp believe he’s ‘come off worse’ from McLaren decisions ‘far too often’ in 2025
5 December 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
Oscar Piastri’s team feel a sense of injustice before Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. At the opening round of the season in Australia, Piastri was told not to attack Norris when the two drivers navigated traffic. He later spun out in treacherous conditions and finished ninth, while his teammate won the race.
The pit wall came under far more scrutiny after Monza, when they instructed Piastri to give up second place after Norris’ slow pit stop. He had been allowed to pit first from P3. Two rounds later in Singapore, McLaren allowed Norris to retain second despite making contact with Piastri during a first-corner overtake. The team later recognised that the move was overly aggressive, but this didn’t help driver #81 recover the lost points.
“They certainly feel, on the Piastri side, that Piastri has come off worse far too often this season,” ESPN journalist Nate Saunders, who spoke to Mark Webber in Qatar, said on the Unlapped podcast. “I don’t think there’s been too much malicious in it, but that’s clearly in their heads. “That alone is why Piastri is going into this race in a really interesting headspace. It maybe complicates things down the line for McLaren if the finishing order is a certain way.”
‘Come off worse’ from McLaren decisions ‘far too often’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/osc...often-in-2025/
Oscar Piastri's journey from humble beginnings to the brink of the Formula One championship
05 Dec 20235
Chloe Hart
ABC Online
Oscar Piastri has the chance to make Australian sporting history with the Formula One title just one podium away when he competes at this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It is a long way from where it all began for the Melbourne boy at Oakleigh Go-Kart Racing Club, where his career hardly got off to a high-flying start.
"He would've been about eight when he first started. There was a race meeting at Ballarat and there he was, this tiny little kid who was coming dead last," said club president Adam Bourke. "He didn't stand out to me, but his trainer said he always could see something in him that was just different from others. Like all kids when they first get started, it's all a little bit tentative. He was one of those kids who didn't take long to work it all out. If you told him something, he got it."
Outgrowing the local go-kart scene, Oscar took a leap of faith getting a sporting scholarship to the UK to chase his F1 dream at just 16 years old. From there, he's risen to be one race away from clinching the F1 drivers' championship and securing a dream that's a lifetime in the making. "We are so proud of him. Once he gets in front and ... [takes it] to Max Verstappen, that's one of the hardest things to do," Bourke said. "[He's] taking it to the number one driver in the world and he doesn't back off. "He's confident and not intimidated by anyone. He has this attitude of 'I'll fight you Max, Lando and the rest'."
‘From humble beginnings’;
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-...cing/106102654
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Seven F1 eras ending at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix doesn’t just mark the end of a Formula 1 season but several significant partnerships too.
Dec 6, 2025
The Race
From one of the championship’s most successful engine manufacturers to the last race for one of F1’s greatest underdogs - here are seven eras ending this weekend, our thoughts on how successful they were and what kind of high (or low) they’ll likely end on.
Yuki Tsunoda + F1 (2021-2025): “Yuki Tsunoda went far further than most Red Bull juniors, of which there has been a truly astounding amount, and stuck around in its F1 roster far longer than many of his high-rated peers. Valentin Khorounzhiy.
Sauber (1993-2025): “The Sauber name has been an ever-present in Formula 1 since it marked its debut in the 1993 South African Grand Prix by running fourth and fifth at the end of the first competitive lap.” Edd Straw.
DRS (2011-2025): “Imagine telling any hardcore fan understandably put off by the inevitably gimmicky, un-meritocratic nature of the Drag Reduction Systrem and its arbitrary one-second trigger point: "Don't worry, it will only stick around for...oh, 15 years." Valentin Khorounzhiy.
Red Bull + Honda (2019-2025): “Honda's most successful F1 era ever comes to an end this weekend, so even though the manufacturer will live on in F1 with its new Aston Martin venture, a very significant chapter is coming to a close.” Scott Mitchell-Malm.
These ground effect F1 cars (2022-2025): “This is the last weekend for this shortlived generation of ground effect F1 cars and, for some, it’s a case of good riddance.” Samarth Kanal.
'Team Silverstone' + Mercedes (2009-2025): “Aston Martin and Mercedes’ partnership ending might feel insignificant, but when you do the maths, this pairing has actually been together 17 years!” Jack Benyon.
Farewell Renault F1 engines (1977-2025): “I will actually be a bit sad to see the Renault engine disappear from F1 this weekend.” Gary Anderson.
‘Seven F1 ending eras’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/s...bi-grand-prix/
PRACTICE DEBRIEF: Is Norris in the pound seats for the 2025 title – or do Verstappen and Piastri have more to show?
Lando Norris started the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend on top as he aims to convert his championship lead into a maiden title, but will he stay there?
5 Dec 2025
Lawrence Barretto
Formula One - Official Site
Lando Norris' bid to convert his championship lead into a first Formula 1 world title at the finale in Abu Dhabi got off to a strong start as he set the pace in Friday practice – but how did his championship rivals Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri fair?
Just how good was Norris on Friday? Well, on paper, pretty good. The McLaren racer, who leads the championship by 12 points from Verstappen with Piastri four points further back, looked quick in both the daytime first practice and the more representative second session at dusk.
‘Is Norris in the pound seats?’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...KxlpOfkMd7Xx4h
‘Not his first rodeo’ – Why Max Verstappen has psychological edge over Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
6 Dec 2025
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com
In the Thursday press conference, Verstappen appeared as relaxed as could be and insisted he was unfazed about any pressure that may be upon him. As to how he was able to keep so calm, his former colleague Wheatley said “it’s not his first rodeo.” “He’s been here before,” Wheatley said. “I think he has a coolness and a calm and I think that permeates through the team. If everyone in the team seems calm, starting with the driver, the team gains confidence from it.”
‘Not his first rodeo’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/why-ma...-oscar-piastri
Oscar Piastri insists he’s firmly in title battle at 2025 Abu Dhabi GP despite tough Friday
The Australian had a tough beginning to his weekend at the Yas Marina.
6 December 2025
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport
Oscar Piastri insists he is still firmly in the Formula 1 title battle despite a challenging start to his 2025 Abu Dhabi GP weekend, as the McLaren driver struggled early – but remains confident he is not out of contention. As the battle intensifies under the Abu Dhabi floodlights, Piastri believes additional track time will bring him fully up to speed, thus, he remains determined to rejoin the fight at the very front.
Consequently, he remains determined to rejoin the fight at the very front as McLaren’s form through Norris gave Piastri renewed belief heading into qualifying. “I think pretty good. I think the car’s looked quick. Just need to get some more laps under my belt and find my feet a bit more really, that’s all. “A few more laps tomorrow, a few more sets of tyres, hopefully we’ll be there.”
‘Firmly in title battle’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/osc...-tough-friday/
Mark Hughes: Verstappen's closer to McLarens than you think
Dec 5, 2025
Mark Hughes
The Race
Max Verstappen is steadily pushing his Red Bull into contention at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Although his second-quickest time to Lando Norris's McLaren was around 0.35s adrift, his long run was over 60% longer than that of the McLaren driver's and the 0.43s difference in their race run averages on the medium tyre is almost accounted for by the difference in run length.
Furthermore, that includes a step-change drop-off in pace for the last three laps of Verstappen's run where he was convinced that something was broken in the car. If we take his average up until the moment he reported that problem (with three laps of his run still to go), he is within less than 0.1s of Norris's average.
"I was fairly happy with the car," said Verstappen. "We just probably needed to be a little bit faster. We were in a decent window, but I think still think not quite quick enough. It seems like there is a decent gap that we need to close but we still need to work on the race pace, so let’s see how much we can find overnight. The ride has been tricky and the single laps and long runs need to be a bit better, but let’s see what we can do."
‘Steadily pushing his Red Bull into contention’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/m...bi-f1-decider/
HUGE NEWS for Verstappen: Mekies CONFIRMS MASSIVE RB21 Performance Upgrade for Abu Dhabi
Dec 6, 2025
PitStop Andrew
Red Bull enters the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with stunning momentum after Laurent Mekies confirmed a massive performance upgrade for the RB21 and the news could not be bigger for Max Verstappen. In this video, we break down everything revealed about the new package, including the aerodynamic refinements, floor efficiency improvements, rear stability gains, and straight-line speed boost that Red Bull believes will completely change the balance of power at Yas Marina.
This analysis explains how the upgrade addresses Verstappen’s weaknesses from Qatar, why simulation data shows a significant step forward, and how the team’s confidence has skyrocketed heading into the final Grand Prix of the season. With key SEO terms such as RB21 upgrade Abu Dhabi, Red Bull performance boost, Mekies confirms upgrade, Verstappen Abu Dhabi news, and F1 breaking news, this description is fully optimized for YouTube search, browse features, and suggested algorithms. If you want the full breakdown of why this upgrade is such huge news for Verstappen, this video reveals every critical detail.
‘MASSIVE RB21 Performance Upgrade’;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e6t3-DGEiI
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Abu Dhabi GP: Russell tops frantic final practice – Hamilton crashes.
George Russell snatched the top spot in a frantic final practice session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, beating championship leader Lando Norris by just 0.004s as Max Verstappen settled for third.
06/12/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
FP3 delivered everything from traffic chaos to a red flag and late-session time attacks – the perfect warm-up for Sunday’s title showdown. Norris, Verstappen and Oscar Piastri all enter the finale with a mathematical shot at the crown, though the McLaren driver holds a 12-point lead over Verstappen and 16 over his team-mate.
Red Flag Chaos and Final Flurry. Just as the session reached full intensity, Lewis Hamilton brought everything to a halt. The Ferrari driver spun into the Turn 9 barrier with 29 minutes remaining and reported that “something buckled at the front and snapped the rear” as he hit the apex.
Verstappen lit the fuse with a 1m24.116s once running resumed, but Piastri immediately reset the bar with a lap half a second quicker. Norris then outdid his team-mate by another quarter of a second, thanks largely to a scorching final sector. Drama unfolded in the pitlane too, as Mercedes released Andrea Kimi Antonelli directly into Tsunoda, ending the RB driver’s session on the spot.
‘George Russell snatched the top spot’;
https://f1i.com/news/555563-abu-dhab...n-crashes.html
Abu Dhabi GP: Free Practice 3 Results
Full results from Free Practice 3 for the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
6 Dec 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe
Pos. No. Driver Team Time / Gap Laps
1 63 George Russell Mercedes 1:23.334 14
2 4 Lando Norris McLaren +0.004s 20
3 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.124s 15
4 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.251s 17
5 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.259s 17
6 31 Esteban Ocon Haas F1 Team +0.271s 19
7 87 Oliver Bearman Haas F1 Team +0.275s 16
8 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.341s 18
9 12 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.373s 14
10 23 Alexander Albon Williams +0.388s 18
‘Free Practice 3 Results’;
https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-a...3-fp3-results/
Nico Rosberg has heard ‘some voices’ suggesting McLaren want Lando Norris to win the F1 title
6 December 2025
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer
Nico Rosberg warns Oscar Piastri that it ‘won’t help’ to dwell on McLaren prioritising Lando Norris.
McLaren had opposed team orders through the first 23/24 rounds of the 2025 F1 season, as Brown and team principal Andrea Stella wanted to give Norris and Piastri an equal chance to win the title. But McLaren have faced accusations that they have prioritised Norris this term. There has been much speculation in the F1 paddock that McLaren favour Norris over Piastri over the course of 2025. Nico Rosberg also now claims that he has “heard” ahead of the Abu Dhabi GP that “everybody” at McLaren is almost rooting to see Norris claim the drivers’ title.
“For Oscar, it is a very tough situation,” Rosberg told Sky Sports News (6/12, 09:12). “He was the leader throughout most of the championship and looked like the dominant force, and then Lando has come back. It’s also a British team, and you sense that, I’m sure, without knowing exactly, but I heard some voices like Mark Webber being there and being the only Australian, and everybody is kind of a little bit towards favouring Lando as a world champion.
‘Rooting to see Norris claim the drivers’ title’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/nic...-the-f1-title/
Max P3 in third free practice of Abu Dhabi
06 December 2025
Florence Cobben
Verstappen.nl
With a quarter of an hour to go, the session is resumed. The pit lane is crowded as many drivers jockey to get onto the track. Max also heads out on a new set of soft tyres. He improves his time to a 1:24.116, but quickly has to relinquish his hold on first place to Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the McLarens, who are about half a second faster than the Dutchman.
Max returns to the pits, and heads out on a new set of soft tyres. He improves his time to a 1:23.514, placing him third behind George Russell and Lando Norris. In the pit lane, Kimi Antonelli is released straight into the path of Yuki Tsunoda, causing the two to make contact and sustain damage.
At the fall of the flag marking the end of the session, Max improves his time (1:23.458) but stays in P3. He is just 0.124 seconds slower than George Russel, while Lando Norris has a gap of four-thousandths of a second to P1. Fernando Alonso comes fourth, and the third championship contender, Oscar Piastri, finished P5.
‘Max P3’;
https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/6044/
Nico Rosberg brutally mocks Lewis Hamilton straight after Abu Dhabi Grand Prix crash
6 December 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
Nico Rosberg saw Lewis Hamilton trying to put his Ferrari ‘in reverse’ after crash. As the world feed cut to Hamilton’s onboard camera, Nico Rosberg saw his former teammate trying to select reverse as if he could get going again. That prompted a brutal reaction.
“Crofty, he’s trying to put it in reverse, should we tell him he’s missing a tyre?” he quipped. Hamilton suggested over the radio that the accident was due to a mechanical issue rather than a driver error: “Something buckled at the front and snapped the rear.”
Rosberg thought the SF-25 was unsettled by striking the ground as Hamilton entered the left-hander. “It starts on the entry already,” he observed. “It starts with bottoming as he was turning in. That already loosened up the rear, and then it just had a follow-on effect. He’s already loose right at the beginning. He thinks something broke.”
‘He’s missing a tyre’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/nic...nd-prix-crash/
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Abu Dhabi GP: Verstappen takes stunning pole ahead of Norris, Piastri.
Max Verstappen took pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ahead of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Dec 6, 2025
ESPN
‘Max Verstappen took pole’;
https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/4...-oscar-piastri
2025 F1 Abu Dhabi GP – Qualifying Results
Dec 6, 2025
Total Motorsport
F1 Abu Dhabi GP 2025 Qualifying results
Check out the full Abu Dhabi GP 2025 Qualifying results from Yas Marina below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:22.207
2 Lando Norris McLaren +0.201
3 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.230
4 George Russell Mercedes +0.438
5 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.523
6 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.695
7 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber +0.697
8 Esteban Ocon Haas +0.706
9 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +0.865
10 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull –
‘Qualifying results’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/202...fying-results/
F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025 starting grid
Dec 6, 2025
The Race
Max Verstappen beat the two McLarens to take pole position for the 2025 Formula 1 world championship deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
No grid penalties have been incurred yet. Ten drivers - including all three title contenders - automatically triggered stewards' investigations for breaches of the maximum delta time rules but these were quickly deemed to not be worthy of penalties.
‘Starting grid’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f...starting-grid/
Max Verstappen secures Abu Dhabi Grand Prix pole ahead of Lando Norris
6 December 2025
Rebecca Braybrook
F1 Oversteer
Max Verstappen will start the 2025 season finale from pole ahead of Lando Norris as pressure begins to build on the three championship contenders. Norris leads the standings ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with Verstappen and Oscar Piastri closely behind heading into the final race of the year.
Verstappen once again went first with a Q3 lap, which saw him initially put in a really strong first sector. Yuki Tsunoda was used to give the Dutchman a tow during the back straight, which saw Verstappen set an impressive lap time, which initially couldn’t be matched by either McLaren driver.
Russell’s first flying lap on new tyres saw him place only fifth after losing grip under the hotel. The Mercedes driver had a massive slide at Turn 14, which saw him nearly in the barrier. The Brit then asked his team to ensure he came out behind Verstappen for the final qualifying laps, hoping that the Red Bull would give him a tow and help pull him above the McLarens.
‘Max Verstappen will start the 2025 season finale from pole’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/max...-lando-norris/
Verstappen beats title rivals to pole position for championship-deciding finale | 2025 Abu…
6th December 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
Verstappen took full advantage of his team mate making one of his rare appearances in Q3, as Red Bull arranged for Tsunoda to give him a tow down Yas Marina’s long straights. With Verstappen also doing his first lap on a new set of tyres, he comfortably went fastest with a lap of 1’22.295.
The McLaren drivers used old tyres for their first runs: Piastri took second, three tenths of a second behind, Norris next a further tenth back. The two orange cars took to the track ahead of Verstappen for their final runs, now on fresh tyres. Piastri, first across the line, couldn’t find enough to move up the order. Norris did, but it was only enough to relegate his team mate from the front row of the grid.
Verstappen tightened his grip on pole position by lowering his time to a 1’22.207. Russell was the last driver who looked like he had a chance to beat him but he could only manage fourth behind the McLarens, oversteering wildly out of the last corner. Leclerc salvaged a strong fifth for Ferrari ahead of Alonso and Bortoleto. Tsunoda will start 10th in the second Red Bull having not set a time in Q3.
‘Red Bull arranged for Tsunoda to give him a tow down Yas Marina’s long straights’;
https://www.racefans.net/2025/12/06/...ciding-finale/
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F1 - 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Post-Qualifying Press Conference Transcript.
DRIVERS: 1 – Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull Racing), 2 – Lando NORRIS (McLaren), 3 – Oscar PIASTRI (McLaren)
06.12.25
PARC FERMÉ INTERVIEWS (Conducted by James Hinchcliffe)
FIA (Press Release)
Q: Max, first of all, congratulations – 48th career pole. You found an enormous amount of lap time in Q3 there. Where did that come from?
Max VERSTAPPEN: Well, in Q2 I stayed on scrubbed tyres and I think those laps already felt quite decent. And then in Q3 around here, you know, the track temp is coming down. You know that you can push a bit more and that's exactly what we did. We found a bit more lap time and, of course, incredibly happy to be in first. That's the only thing that we can do, right? That's the only thing that we can control, try to just maximise everything we have and then do what we can with the car – and we definitely did that in qualifying.
Q: Lando Norris starts outside of the front row. You guys are really writing the script for us – all three of you starting one, two, three. Lando, you're ahead of one championship rival, behind the other. Are you satisfied with how you did out there? Did you leave anything on the table?
Lando NORRIS: It's tough. I mean, Max did a good job, so congrats to him. We did everything we could. I think my lap was pretty good. I was pretty happy. So yeah, of course disappointed to not be on pole for the final weekend, but we were just not running fast enough today. So, we'll have to try do it tomorrow.
Q: And Oscar, for you, great effort throughout. You were very quick in Q1, came up a little bit short in Q3. How was the run for you?
Oscar PIASTRI: Yeah. I mean, I think it was pretty good. I think the lap I did in Q1, it was nice to finally get into a rhythm through the weekend. And honestly, I think the last lap in Q3 was pretty good as well. There wasn't a whole lot left in that. No, just not quite quick enough today. But yep, sets up a pretty exciting day tomorrow.
‘Post-Qualifying Press Conference’;
https://www.fia.com/news/f1-2025-abu...nce-transcript
Max Verstappen admits to needing ‘help or luck’ to win F1 title despite Abu Dhabi GP pole
06.12.25
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week
Verstappen was thankful to team-mate Yuki Tsunoda, who, by making it into Q3, was able to sacrifice one lap to give him a tow to help him to pole. “But yeah, it was a good lap already with a little bit of help also of course from Yuki with the tow,” he said. “So that was very nice of him to give up one of his rides. And then in the second lap, I was not sure if I was going to improve just because of the tow that I got. But then again, I just found a little bit more lap time in the corners and that gave me a little bit more lap time. So happy with that, happy with the one lap performance at the end in qualifying. Now, of course, the big question mark is can we keep that up in the race?”
Verstappen, fully aware that his gap to Norris will make it extremely difficult to win the championship, admitted that some intervention and good fortune will be perhaps the only key to success. “Of course, I’m excited and looking forward to it. I’m going to try to win that race,” he said. “But of course, with that, I still need a little bit of help or luck to win the championship. But we’ll see how that goes tomorrow.”
Asked if he will agonise over the various permutations needed to win the title, Verstappen was nonplussed on the subject. “No, we’ll figure it out tomorrow. Not tonight. It’s like talking about strategy,” he said. “You can talk about it for one hour, two hours. And then after one lap, you throw it in the bin. A lot that can go well for you, can go against you. We’ll find out tomorrow.”
‘Help or luck’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...dhabi-gp-pole/
Norris ‘disappointed’ to miss out on pole in Abu Dhabi as he explains approach to title-decider
Championship leader Lando Norris will line up in second place for Sunday's decisive Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with the Briton conceding that he was "not fast enough" to outpace title rival Max Verstappen for pole position.
06.12.25
Formula One - Official Site
Lando Norris admitted that he was “disappointed” to not take pole position for the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but the Briton vowed to try to win as he looks to claim a maiden World Championship.
After setting the pace in both of Friday’s practice sessions, Norris did not top the timesheets during any of Saturday’s Qualifying segments, with McLaren team mate Oscar Piastri and Mercedes’ George Russell going quickest in Q1 and Q2 respectively.
Max Verstappen then beat the rest of the pack in Q3, the Red Bull driver clinching pole thanks to his effort of 1m 22.207s. Norris proved to be his closest challenger, but at 0.201s adrift could not beat the Dutchman, meaning that the championship leader will line up in second on the grid.
‘Norris disappointed’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...nuqnYslVOkmPwM
Martin Brundle concerned by Lando Norris’ hand movements in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix cockpit
6 December 2025
Ashley Hambly
F1 Oversteer
Martin Brundle has voiced his concerns over Lando Norris’ driving style during qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after Max Verstappen secured pole for the final race of the season. So far, Norris is playing into the prophecy set by Mathias Lauda. The son of the late and great Niki Lauda voiced his opinion that the championship leader should just focus on finishing within the top-three positions rather than gunning for the race lead.
Martin Brundle shares his concerns over Lando Norris’ driving style during Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying. During Sky Sports F1’s coverage of the final qualifying session of the season in Abu Dhabi, Martin Brundle highlighted how Norris had seemingly changed his driving style between the final free practice session and qualifying.
The former F1 driver turned pundit said, “He’s not had that lovely, fluid driving style that we’ve seen in the free practices, Lando. There’s something a bit edgy and a bit tight about the way Lando’s driving. He needs to calm those hands down for his final attempt.”
“Something a bit edgy and a bit tight about the way Lando’s driving”;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/mar...-prix-cockpit/
Norris denies Abu Dhabi GP title fight jitters after crucial pole missed
6 Dec 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com
Lando Norris will start the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in P2 behind main championship rival Max Verstappen on pole. A fragile mentality is something various F1 pundits and analysts have argued afflicts the leader in the Standings, which might have been the reason for his drop in form at Doha, at could play out again tomorrow during the race that will ultimately see a world champion crowned.
"I mean, it feels a bit different, but just because it's the final race of the year, not because of anything else," Norris said after qualifying. "And I felt pretty normal into Sunday last week. I didn't really have the expectation that I was going to get the championship because I started P3 [He started the race in Qatar in P2] and didn't really expect it."
Norris is "ready to go" into decisive battle for the title. Norris then dismissed any talk of pre-championship nervousness playing a role in missing his second title 'match point' tomorrow, and argued that he was eager to wrap up the season. "I felt good then, [and] I feel good now," the Bristol-born driver clarified. "I feel comfortable and ready to go. I feel like we have a good plan for things. Like Max said, you also just can't plan for everything. So, no, I feel good. I feel excited to get the final race done and then going on with it," Norris concluded.
‘Norris denies Abu Dhabi GP title fight jitters’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/norri...al-pole-missed
Winners and losers from Abu Dhabi GP F1 qualifying
Dec 6, 2025
The Race
Winner - Max Verstappen (1st)
Loser - Oscar Piastri (3rd)
Winner - Lando Norris (2nd)
Loser - Lewis Hamilton (16th)
Winner - Fernando Alonso (6th)
Winner - Esteban Ocon (8th)
Loser - Kimi Antonelli (14th)
Winner - Gabriel Bortoleto (7th)
Loser - Alpine (19th and 20th)
Loser - Nico Hulkenberg (18th)
‘Winners and losers’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/w...f1-qualifying/
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Norris takes 2025 F1 title as Verstappen wins Abu Dhabi GP.
Verstappen did all he could, but it was Norris who secured the F1 2025 title.
December 7, 2025
Pablo Elizalde
Motor Sport Magazine
Lando Norris secured his first Formula 1 title with third place in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, a race dominated by Max Verstappen. Norris lost second place to team-mate Oscar Piastri on the opening lap and spent his day mainly defending from the threat of Charles Leclerc‘s Ferrari. The British driver managed to keep his rival at bay by following Ferrari’s two-stop strategy, crossing the finish line in third and becoming the 2025 world champion.
Norris is the first McLaren world champion since Lewis Hamilton in 2008. Verstappen took his seventh win of the season in commanding fashion, but fell three points short of the title as not enough rivals separated him from Norris.
Piastri, who also had an outside chance in the championship race, finished second behind Verstappen. Leclerc’s challenge to Norris eventually evaporated, the Ferrari driver having to second for fourth ahead of George Russell, who finished a very distant fifth in the top Mercedes.
‘Lando Norris first McLaren world champion since Lewis Hamilton in 2008’;
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a.../?nowprocket=1
2025 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Race Results
Lando Norris seals the 2025 F1 title by holding onto a crucial third place at Yas Marina despite Max Verstappen winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
7 December 2025
John Smith
Total Motorsport
F1 Abu Dhabi GP 2025 race results
Check out the full Abu Dhabi GP 2025 race results from Yas Marina below.
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Leader
2 Oscar Piastri McLaren +12.594
3 Lando Norris McLaren +16.572
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +23.279
5 George Russell Mercedes +48.563
6 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +67.562
7 Esteban Ocon Haas +69.876
8 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +72.670
9 Lance Stroll Aston Martin +74.523
10 Oliver Bearman Haas +76.166
‘Race results’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/202...-race-results/
Max Verstappen wins the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as Lando Norris becomes 2025 Formula 1 champion
7 December 2025
Shay Rogers
F1 Oversteer
Verstappen got the start he needed and held both McLaren drivers off into turn one, before a surprise move towards the end of lap one from Piastri on harder tyres caught Norris napping, promoting him to second. The gaps remained fairly stagnant until the first set of pit stops, when McLaren brought Norris in to cover George Russell and Charles Leclerc.
He fought his way through traffic before crucially coming up against Yuki Tsunoda in the Red Bull. He finally got past him on lap 24, despite being off the track, but still had a Ferrari breathing down his neck. After staying out, Piastri would have to push his planned first stop of the race back when Norris had to pit to cover his rivals for a second time.
The Aussie rejoined in second, with a clear margin to his teammate, but more than a pit stop behind Verstappen out front. The running order would remain the same until the end, with Verstappen refusing to back the pack up, rolling to a 71st career victory. Norris didn’t have it easy, pushing right to the end, holding on to third place, not far ahead of Leclerc in the Ferrari.
‘Lando Norris becomes 2025 Formula 1 champion’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/max...la-1-champion/
Lando Norris wins 2025 F1 Drivers’ Championship despite Max Verstappen winning Abu Dhabi GP
Lando Norris clinches a dramatic first Formula 1 World Championship after a tense Abu Dhabi GP showdown with Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri
7 December 2025
Euan Burns
Total Motorsport
McLaren‘s Lando Norris won his first Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with a P3 finish around Yas Marina. That was enough to take the championship by just two points, despite rivals Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri finishing P1 and P2 respectively.
Verstappen made an aggressive move to the inside at the start in order to cover Norris, and the front three got through the first half of the lap with no incident. At Turn 9, though, Piastri made a stunning move on his teammate and moved up to P2, despite being on the hard tyre. Norris knew that P3 would still be enough for the championship, but it left him at more risk of falling further back.
All sorts of scenarios were being discussed by the McLaren pit wall, primarily focused on potential safety cars and how they would stack up against Leclerc on a restart. The laps just kept ticking by, though, and there was no nasty surprise for McLaren and Norris, who became the 35th different driver to win the Drivers’ Championship.
‘Lando Norris clinches a dramatic first Formula 1 World Championship’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/lan...-abu-dhabi-gp/
Oscar Piastri cheekily quizzes Max Verstappen over F1 finale tactics
Oscar Piastri questioned Max Verstappen's tactics in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
07 Dec 2025
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net
After the race, the Australian cheekily questioned Verstappen’s approach to the race. There had been suggestions that Verstappen would try and replicate the tactics used by Lewis Hamilton in 2016 when he tried to back up title rival Nico Rosberg into the chasing pack.
But Verstappen did not deploy such tactics and instead sealed a dominant win. “Didn't want to back everyone up?” Piastri asked Verstappen in the cool down room. Four-time world champion Verstappen replied: "When I heard the top 16 were still in the pit window, I thought that wasn't too bad."
“Didn't want to back everyone up?”;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/108807...finale-tactics
Lando Norris takes Formula One title despite Max Verstappen win in finale
British driver finishes third at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to take championship by two points
Dec 07 2025
Giles Richards
Irish Times
Lando NorrisLando Norris has won his first Formula One world championship with a gutsy, nerveless drive of no little bravery to seal it with third place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. A podium was enough for the 26-year-old British driver despite Red Bull’s Max Verstappen winning and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri taking second. Norris did exactly what was required of him in an enormously intense and high-pressure contest at the Yas Marina Circuit, including making a series of bold overtakes, with a flawless execution by himself and by his McLaren team.
In taking his first world championship he becomes the 11th British driver to do so and it brings to an end McLaren’s drivers’ championship drought, which stretched back to 2008, when Lewis Hamilton last won it for the team. It had been 27 years since McLaren last secured the drivers’ and constructors’ double in 1998, with Mika Häkkinen.
It marks a remarkable turnaround for the team, since a nadir in the mid-2010s when they twice finished ninth in the constructors’ championship. The revival has been helmed by Zak Brown, the team principal, who joined in 2016, and most recently by Andrea Stella, who as team principal has delivered an operationally sharp outfit with a hugely competitive car.
‘Lando Norris takes Formula One title & championship by two points’;
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/202...win-in-finale/
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Norris on first F1 title: I started to shake before finish.
“I felt calm until three corners to go. I started to shake a little bit. I got to think of all those incredible memories. Very quickly. And then I got to see the team.” Lando Norris.
December 07, 2025
Nate Saunders
TSN
YAS MARINA, Abu Dhabi -- Lando Norris said he started to shake in the final corners of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Englishman managed a tense race without putting a foot wrong, admitting the magnitude of the situation only hit him as he neared the chequered flag.
“I did feel calm,” Norris said on Sunday evening. “I felt calm until three corners to go. I started to shake a little bit. I got to think of all those incredible memories. Very quickly. And then I got to see the team. And I went over the line. And this is a moment that I’ll never forget.”
“I started to shake before finish”;
https://www.tsn.ca/motorsports/formu...h-n1-47236608/
Lando Norris' mum breaks down in tears as Lewis Hamilton congratulates F1 champ
Cisca Wauman gave an emotional Sky Sports interview after watching footage of Lewis Hamilton congratulating her son Lando Norris on his world championship triumph at Abu Dhabi
07 Dec 2025
DANIEL CLARK
Somerset Live
Cisca Wauman struggled to contain her emotions whilst speaking about her son Lando Norris securing the Formula One Drivers' Championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The McLaren driver came third in the desert race, which saw him edge out race winner Max Verstappen for the title by just two points. His Belgian mum then appeared before the Sky Sports cameras, where she was shown seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton - one of his childhood heroes - personally congratulating her son.
He's only the third British driver this century, following Hamilton and Jenson Button, and the eighth ever to lift the title. "That's special," Wauman remarked as she viewed footage of Hamilton, who subsequently declared himself "really, really happy" for Norris, congratulating her son in the media pen. Wauman, who repeatedly had to stop as she grappled with her tears of happiness, said: "I'm emotionally drained - so happy for McLaren and all the fans.”
“A lot of sacrifices - by the time he was eight, Lando and his brother Ollie were competing [in karting]. I feel like he missed a lot of childhood.", reports the Express. "The last few laps took ages! They were calling us down with 10 laps to go ... the race is not over. Anything could still happen! But we did it. I don't know what the plan is [for tonight]. Normally I just walk back to the hotel and I start reading my book, and I was planning on doing the same. I don't know what is happening!".
‘Lando Norris' mum breaks down in tears’;
https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/sport...-down-10691529
Norris survives ferocious Verstappen comeback to claim F1 title
December 7, 2025
Jerome Pugmire
Washington Times
No Formula 1 driver puts pressure on his rivals quite like Max Verstappen. The Red Bull star did it to Lewis Hamilton in 2021, winning his first title on the last lap of the season and preventing Hamilton from clinching a record eighth F1 title. Verstappen came close to winning the title again this year, mounting an incredible late charge to crank up the pressure on Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Earlier in the season, the McLaren teammates were contesting the F1 title between themselves.
But Verstappen changed all that. Heading into Sunday’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, it had become a three-way battle. Verstappen did all he could. He won in Abu Dhabi from pole position for a third straight race win, a season-leading eighth and 71st of a stellar career. It was not quite enough to overtake Norris, who won his first F1 title by placing third in the race and ending up just two points ahead of Verstappen in the standings.
But it showed why Verstappen commands so much awe. “This Max guy is pretty hard to beat,” McLaren CEO Zak Brown told broadcaster Sky with a large dose of understatement. One race earlier, at the Qatar GP, Brown had jokingly compared Verstappen to a horror movie ghoul who keeps resurfacing. “He’s like that guy in a horror movie, that right as you think he’s not coming back, he’s back,” Brown said in a podcast interview before the Qatar race. “What an unbelievable talent he is. He never makes mistakes. He seizes every opportunity. We’ve never thought he was out.”
“This Max guy is pretty hard to beat”;
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news...back-claim-f1/
'You've driven insane this year' – Norris' fellow drivers congratulate him on his maiden title
Lando Norris became the 2025 champion in a nail-biting finale in Abu Dhabi.
07 Dec 2025
Formula One - Official Site
"I want to wish congratulations to Lando as he becomes World Champion. We’ve raced together for so long and he is more than deserving of the title. Hopefully we can do battle on track next year for the 2026 crown!" George Russell.
"Congratulations to Lando too," his Mercedes team mate Kimi Antonelli said. "He deserves it but also well done to both Max and Oscar Piastri who have also been brilliant this year. It was a great battle all year."
"Massive congratulations to @lando on his first Drivers’ Championship! He’s an incredible driver and he has proven that you can achieve your highest goals staying true to yourself! Congrats my muppet friend! Well deserved!" Carlos Sainz.
As the fireworks went off over the Yas Marina Circuit, Hamilton walked into Norris' post-race interview to say "I told you!" with a grin in a heartwarming moment, with both drivers now able to call themselves champions with McLaren.
"I think a very deserving winner," he said when asked to give his thoughts on Norris' achievement. "I know that every weekend I go on track, it’s going to be tough. And I think we’ve pushed each other through the last three years.” Oscar Piastri.
Max Verstappen congratulated Norris immediately after the race in Abu Dhabi
'You've driven insane this year';
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...j8UI3Y3UPzQAi4
Lando Norris Clinches Historic F1 Championship: How Sporting World Celebrated His Success
Lando Norris won his first Formula 1 World Championship in Abu Dhabi, earning praise from rivals like Max Verstappen and legends including Lewis Hamilton.
Dec 08, 2025
NDTV Sports Desk
Max Verstappen, the man who was competing with Norris for the top spot in the drivers' championship, was among the first ones to congratulate the 26-year-old.
"Unbelievably proud," Verstappen wrote on social media. "We never gave up and kept pushing until the very end... @lando congratulations on your first championship. Well done mate."
Unbelievably proud We never gave up and kept pushing until the very end. Thank you @redbullracing, Honda and everyone for your support along the way!!!@LandoNorris congratulations on your first championship. Well done mate pic.twitter.com/bASx4nhvMU
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) December 7, 2025
The final race was a testament to the respect forged in intense competition. F1 legend Lewis Hamilton, himself a multiple world champion, struggled to hide his joy, especially upon seeing a fellow drive from the United Kingdom topping the drivers' charts.
"I'm really, really happy for Lando. Winning your first world title is truly special. The UK continues to pump out great drivers," he said.
Even the tennis world stopped and took notice of what happened in Abu Dhabi as wishes poured in. The legendary Novak Djokovic, a man familiar with the pinnacle of sporting success, posted on Instagram: "Congratulations Lando What a season! You are a World champion @lando."
Djokovic, who was present at an F1 Sprint Race earlier in the season, showed that he is truly a Formula 1 follower.
The 2025 Australian Open and Wimbledon winner, Jannik Sinner, was present in Abu Dhabi for the final race. Sinner, a known F1 enthusiast, witnessed the historic moment live, at the circuit.
"What a day Incredible to watch," he shared, "Huge congrats @lando on your first F1 World Championship ."
Spain's young star, Carlos Alcaraz, added his concise but powerful endorsement: " Many congrats @lando!"
‘How Sporting World Celebrated His Success’;
https://sports.ndtv.com/formula-1/la...uccess-9769115
FIA post-race press conference – Abu Dhabi
The top three chat to the press after the final race of the season.
7 Dec 2025
Formula One - Official Site
TRACK INTERVIEWS
(Conducted by David Coulthard)
Q: Lando Norris, you are a world champion! The world champion!
Lando NORRIS: The world champion. Oh, God. I've not cried in a while. I didn't think I would cry, but I did. It's a long journey. First of all, I want to say a big thanks to my guys, everyone in McLaren, my parents. I'm not crying. My mom, my dad, you know, they're the ones who supported me since the beginning. Oh, I look like a loser!
Q: You look like a winner to me. You're only the 35th man to win a Formula 1 world championship. This is the biggest prize in motor sport.
‘FIA post-race press conference’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...L8IE8nXvPGiLiM
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Was 2025 Oscar Piastri’s best chance at an F1 title or a prelude to future glory?
Oscar Piastri let slip a big lead in this year’s F1 title race but has vowed to learn some lessons for next season.
9 Dec 2025
Jack Snape
Yahoo! Sport
Tumbling from the Formula One precipice, ultimately Oscar Piastri was not the first Australian in 40 years to be crowned world champion. The man from Melbourne finished a narrow third in the driver standings this year behind his McLaren teammate Lando Norris and four-time champion Max Verstappen. Now, he is back to square one.
Midway through the season Piastri lead Norris by a comfortable 34 points and Verstappen by a chasm. But a run of six rounds without a podium left him on the outside looking in, and by the end at Abu Dhabi he finished 13 points behind his teammate.
The slender margin makes it tempting to find where those points might have been lost. McLaren’s order to switch positions in Monza cost the Australian six points in the battle with his teammate. The decision not to pit Piastri in Qatar during a safety car? Probably even more. Across a long season however, the Australian was responsible for his spin in Melbourne, and his accident in Azerbaijan. McLaren chief executive Zak Brown may be hard to like, but he is also hard to blame. On one hand, that means Piastri might not get a better chance to win a championship. He fumbled the title from the cockpit of the fastest car, with a 34-point lead on his nearest rival in the second half of a season.
Verstappen, racing for a new-look Red Bull team, now without long-time advisor Helmut Marko, will lead a field sure to improve. On the other, McLaren with all their resources and technical wherewithal are unlikely to become terrible overnight. Piastri is still one of Formula One’s younger drivers, and will be well-placed to adapt to the modified cars. In the time since Norris has been at McLaren, Piastri has driven for Alpine and in other classes, winning F3 and F2 championships.
‘Piastri’s best chance at F1 title or a prelude to future glory’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/hel...iver-decision/
Oscar Piastri vows F1 title hasn’t made Lando Norris ‘Superman’
8 Dec 2025
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Oscar Piastri has denied that the situation at McLaren could change with Lando Norris’ title win in Formula 1, quipping that his team-mate hasn’t “become Superman”.
Asked if he suspects the dynamic at McLaren could change, Piastri told media including Motorsport Week: “No, I don’t think so. I don’t think that will change anything. “For me, he’s obviously had a great season this year and a deserving champion, but he’s still Lando Norris. It’s not like he’s become Superman.”
“So, I don’t think things will change with that. I’m expecting full fairness from the team and equality going forward. I don’t have any concerns that that will change at all. Clearly, Lando’s had a very strong season this year, and ultimately did a better job.”
‘Lando Norris hasn’t become Superman’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...rris-superman/
McLaren boss cuts in on Piastri's engineer team radio after Norris title win
9 Dec 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com
A moment involving McLaren CEO Zak Brown interrupting Oscar Piastri’s post-race radio has drawn attention following Lando Norris’ title triumph. The McLaren team boss appeared to cut into the exchange between Piastri and his race engineer, Tom Stallard, moments after the chequered flag at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The British engineer, who was speaking to the 24-year-old upon the chequered flag at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, witnessed his conversation cut short as Brown jumped in with his own celebration.
Great job, Oscar. Obviously, that means Lando is world champion,” Stallard said.
“Oscar, what a season. What a season. You're a star, seven wins. We love you. We'll do it again next year. Thank you, Oscar, for everything you've done. What a year,” Brown interjected.
Stallard subsequently resumed his message, adding: “Well done to you, Oscar, as well. I mean, to be honest, where we were last year, the season you put together is pretty impressive. So when we go away, there are a few wounds to lick.”
However, Brown would again cut into their conversation to add: “Oscar, very proud of you. Awesome. What a team player. We're going to get it next year. See you at the podium.”
‘McLaren boss cuts in’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/brown...ter-norris-win
Furious fans unleash over two words Oscar Piastri's team boss used after the Aussie's F1 championship dream was shattered
8 Dec 2025
SHAYNE BUGDEN, SPORTS EDITOR, AUSTRALIA
MailOnline
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has been blasted by fans and a former F1 world champion for his message to Oscar Piastri just after the Aussie's title dream was crushed at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. However, two words in his message set fans off, and former champion Nico Rosberg accused the American of lacking empathy. 'What a season! What a season!' Brown began as Oscar was driving back to the pits after the final lap. 'You're a star. Seven wins. We love you. We'll do it again next year. Thank you Oscar for everything you've done. What a year. Oscar, very proud of you. Awesome. What a team player.'
The choice of the words 'team player' set off fans who have accused the team of breaking their promise to let Piastri and Norris race freely and without favouritism under McLaren's 'papaya rules'.
'Shafting Oscar all the way to the end,' one wrote on X.
'Stepping over his radio guy and sounding so full of s**t,' another said.
'I do not understand how Zak Brown and [team principal] Andrea Stella will be able to look Oscar in the eyes next season. Seriously disgraceful,' a third commented.
'1 grand slam, 6 poles, 7 wins, 13 podiums. all reduced down to “what a team player”. zak brown i wish you nothing but the worst,' another angry fan added.
Rosberg reacted to Brown's words by accusing him of being callous. 'That's his [Piastri's] most horrible moment in his racing career,' the 2016 drivers' champion said in commentary. Maybe Zak could have had a little more empathy there, rather than celebrating. He could have said "next year will be your year" but it's difficult for Zak because he's so ecstatic at the same time.'
‘Furious fans unleash’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...x-McLaren.html
Martin Brundle and Nico Rosberg admit they got one thing wrong about Oscar Piastri in 2025
7 Dec 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
Martin Brundle admits he ‘misread’ Oscar Piastri’s calmness during the 2025 F1 season. Brundle was previewing the race in Abu Dhabi for Sky Sports F1 (7/12 11:28 am), and while discussing Piastri, he said: “What we have to remember is he has 82 races less experience than Lando Norris. That’s three and a half seasons. Imagine how much Lando’s improved in the last three and a half seasons”.
“So, he is a future world champion. I have no doubt about that, Oscar Piastri. He’s had a couple of brutal penalties this year that have cost him dearly, at Silverstone, and of course, in Brazil as well. But I think we might misread him a little bit as well. I thought when he sort of went on the missing list a little bit for six races, didn’t he? Threw it in the wall in Baku had lost his head a little bit, and just generally, he basically. He’s not absolutely stone cold horizontal. I think he soaks a little bit as well. We misread him.”
Rosberg added: “I mean, mentally, he is so strong. I would consider him one of the strongest out there. He’s just so level-headed. It’s the same pizza in the evening, whether he wins the race or finishes fourth with the same crowd. Lando was also saying throughout this weekend that if there was one thing he’s jealous of Oscar for, then it would be Oscar’s level-headedness, and his mental approach and being so balanced.”
‘Mentally strong’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/mar...astri-in-2025/
Juan Pablo Montoya thinks Oscar Piastri will ask one ‘big question’ after Lando Norris wins 2025 title
9 Dec 2025
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer
Juan Pablo Montoya thinks Oscar Piastri will wonder if McLaren will change after Lando Norris becomes champion. McLaren have reiterated throughout 2025 that their drivers are equal and that they keep things fair between them. However, Piastri’s camp think they have ‘come off worse’ far too often at McLaren this season.
Team orders in Monza and Singapore left a sour taste in Piastri’s mouth, and Juan Pablo Montoya thinks he will ask a ‘big question’ at McLaren in 2026. He will wonder if things will change within the team, especially now that Norris will bear the number one on his car next year. Montoya said via F1 TV: “It’s hard. I think what Oscar said, at least he finished on a higher note, like he found the pace, he found the speed, he found everything he needed.”
“The big question for him in his mind is, next year, can I beat Lando again? Is the team going to change? Is anything going to change in the team because Lando is world champion? “And not only in Oscar but everybody in his camp, people are going to be wondering, do we need to stay, do we need to go? There’s going to be a lot of questions.”
‘Big question’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jua...ns-2025-title/
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Dr. Helmut Marko decides to leave Red Bull.
After more than 20 years as Red Bull's motorsport advisor, Dr. Helmut Marko has decided to step down at the end of 2025.
9 December 2025
Niels Hendrix
Verstappen.nl
Helmut Marko, said: “I have been involved in motorsport for six decades now, and the past 20-plus years at Red Bull have been an extraordinary and extremely successful journey. It has been a wonderful time that I have been able to help shape and share with so many talented people. Everything we have built and achieved together fills me with pride. Narrowly missing out on the world championship this season has moved me deeply and made it clear to me that now is the right moment for me personally to end this very long, intense, and successful chapter. I wish the entire team continued success and am convinced that they will be fighting for both world championship titles again next year.”
Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO corporate projects and investments Red Bull, said: “Helmut approached me with the wish to end his role as motorsport advisor at the end of the year. I deeply regret his decision, as he has been an influential figure for more than two decades, and his departure marks the end of an extraordinary era. After a long and intensive conversation, I knew I had to respect his wishes, as I gained the impression that the timing felt right for him to take this step. Even though his departure will leave a significant gap, our respect for his decision and our gratitude for everything he has done for Red Bull Racing outweigh it. Helmut Marko will be deeply missed, both personally and professionally. We wish him all the very best for the future and hope that he will remain closely and warmly connected to the team.”
“Now is the right moment for me”;
https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/6050/
What's really behind Marko's sudden Red Bull exit
Dec 9, 2025
Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race
Helmut Marko will leave Red Bull at the end of 2025, ending a run of more than 20 years as the Formula 1 team’s motorsport advisor. The move has been framed as Marko’s decision “to step down” but his exit is understood to have a complicated backstory. Significant clashes included Marko making derogatory remarks about then-Red Bull driver Sergio Perez being Mexican in late 2023, a fallout over a failed attempt to oust Marko in early 2024 that Verstappen publicly criticised, and lately Marko sparking significant abuse of Kimi Antonelli for comments made after the Qatar Grand Prix.
Reports in the Netherlands also suggested that Marko has made questionable junior driver decisions this year that Red Bull disagreed with and had to intervene on to overturn. This is believed to relate to whether ex-McLaren junior Alex Dunne would join the programme or not. Despite the claims in Red Bull's release, Marko's exit is no surprise given relations seemed to have cooled significantly and it was understood that both Mintzlaff and Red Bull shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya were in agreement after the Abu Dhabi finale that he should be removed.
It is understood that his exit was agreed upon and communicated across Sunday evening and then Monday, ahead of Tuesday's announcement. What is less clear, though, is what this means for Verstappen. The four-time world champion was a staunch defender of Marko – who gave Verstappen an F1 seat at Toro Rosso straight out of Formula 3 in 2015, which fostered an intense loyalty to each other.
‘Complicated backstory’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/w...red-bull-exit/
Red Bull’s Silent Coup: Helmut Marko Ousted
December 9, 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com
For years Helmut Marko was the unfiltered voice and roaming enforcer of the old regime: a director at Red Bull Racing, a talent spotter with a fearsome hit rate, and the man who could swing a junior driver’s career with a phone call. But power at Milton Keynes shifted after Mateschitz’s death in 2022. Oliver Mintzlaff moved into a top role at Red Bull GmbH, and the guard changed again this season when Christian Horner was removed from his positions, with Laurent Mekies elevated to run Red Bull Racing after his stint heading Racing Bulls. Marko survived that first storm. It appears he didn’t survive the second.
The flashpoints have been building. Marko has always spoken on his own terms, often dropping sensitive tidbits into the media stream with little sign-off. That autonomy was largely tolerated in the Horner years. Not anymore. Under Mintzlaff and Mekies, the leash tightened, and Marko’s independent streak became a liability rather than an asset. One episode in particular jarred. As reported elsewhere this week, Marko struck a deal on his own to bring Irish youngster Alex Dunne into the Red Bull programme — with no input from Mekies or Mintzlaff. When that contract was subsequently terminated, a penalty clause is said to have been triggered, leaving Red Bull on the hook for a six-figure sum that could now end up underwriting parts of Dunne’s 2026 F2 campaign with Rodin, along with his exit from McLaren’s junior ranks. For the current leadership, it was a flashing red line: unilateral decisions, corporate bills.
The temperature rose further around Singapore, where Chalerm Yoovidhya — who represents the powerful Thai shareholding in Red Bull — was understood to be unimpressed with aspects of Marko’s behaviour in the paddock. The final straw, sources say, arrived in Qatar. On live television, Marko suggested that 18-year-old Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli had effectively opened the door for Lando Norris late in the Grand Prix. Antonelli was already dealing with a wave of social media bile; the insinuation poured petrol on it. An apology followed from the team, with Mekies personally involved. Bridges don’t burn easily at Red Bull, but that one was well alight.
‘Silent Coup’;
https://fastestlap.com/news/red-bull...-marko-ousted/
Red Bull are about to pay the price for the big mistake Helmut Marko made just before his exit
9 December 2025
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
Helmut Marko has rushed Arvid Lindblad into an F1 seat. Few within Red Bull would have had any qualms about Hadjar’s promotion given his scintillating form at Racing Bulls and Tsunoda’s bleak results. There was more resistance, however, to the idea of promoting Lindblad. Some at Red Bull doubt that Lindblad is ready for F1, which isn’t a slight on the Briton given that he only turned 18 in August. He only stepped up from karting in 2022.
Juan Pablo Montoya, whose son Sebastian also races in F2, shared the same concerns but said Marko was fast-tracking Lindblad ‘by force’. F2 insiders think Lindblad needed a second year in the series to address the weaknesses he displayed in 2025. He only scored two podiums in the last 16 races of the campaign. Laurent Mekies didn’t want to rush Lindblad but Marko’s opinion clearly held sway. Now Red Bull could pay the price.
‘Marko was fast-tracking Lindblad by force’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/red...fore-his-exit/
Helmut Marko's Red Bull exit fuelled by 'recent antics' - report
Helmut Marko appears to be heading for the exit door at Red Bull - is this the reason why?
9 Dec 2025
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365
De Limburger report states that Marko signed Lindblad on his own initiative, which was not completely aligned with other members of the Red Bull management team. Even more strikingly, however, De Limburger reports that Marko also signed a contract with Alex Dunne. “Marko knew that it had already been decided by shareholders, team boss Laurent Mekies and sporting director Mintzlaff that Dunne would not be an option for the junior program. Without anyone knowing it, Marko signed the Irishman anyway," the report reads.
It was a situation that did not go down well inside Red Bull, and Marko was immediately instructed to terminate the contract. Dunne, who left the McLaren F1 programme earlier this year, was never presented as a new Red Bull junior - and the team reportedly had to fork out a significant fee to get out of the contract.
The Austrian was in the spotlight once again after the Qatar Grand Prix after accusing Kimi Antonelli of deliberately handing over position to Lando Norris amid a tense title fight. Antonelli lost momentum through a mistake, gifting a crucial two points to Norris.
'Recent antics';
https://racingnews365.com/helmut-mar...nings---report
Verstappen's first reaction after Marko officially departs Red Bull
9 Dec 2025
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com
Max Verstappen said he is "forever grateful" for Helmut Marko and his "belief" in the Dutchman as the Austrian is set to depart Red Bull. Along with Sebastian Vettel, Verstappen became the second four-time World Champion to come out of the Young Driver Program, and there was plenty of praise from the 28-year-old towards Marko.
"Thank you, Helmut," the Dutchman started by saying in a post on Instagram regarding the news of Marko's departure. "We’ve achieved everything we ever dreamed of together. I’m forever grateful for your belief in me."
‘Verstappen's first reaction’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verst...parts-red-bull
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Leclerc reveals why he doesn't "have any real expectations" for 2026 despite his faultless drive in Abu Dhabi.
"Next season is still a blank slate, and we don’t know where the other teams stand, so we don’t have any real expectations yet. After this week, we will head back to Maranello to regroup, and our job will be to focus all our efforts on preparing for the season ahead as best as we can." Charles Leclerc.
08 Dec 2025
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
On the back of a disastrous Qatar Grand Prix a week ago, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc delivered a faultless drive at the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, albeit he still missed out on a podium finish at the Yas Marina Circuit. Explaining, Leclerc said: "I gave it everything and our team executed the race perfectly. Unfortunately, P4 was all there was in it for us today. "I really wanted to finish the season on a high, bringing home a podium for everyone, and I was close to Lando (Norris) in a few moments of the race, but it was not enough to make a pass.”
"A huge thank you to our whole team, both at the track and at home in Italy, for all the hard work put in this year, as well as our Tifosi for their ongoing support. It’s been a tough season for us." Ahead of the sweeping technical changes that will come into force next season, Leclerc admitted that nobody can have a "real expectations" until the brand-new cars complete their first laps during pre-season testing.
"Blank slate”;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/28091
Leclerc's 'now or never' F1 warning to Ferrari
Dec 10, 2025
Jon Noble
The Race
Charles Leclerc says Ferrari's progress next year is critical to his future at the Formula 1 team, as he warns it will be a ‘now or never’ season for the squad. Asked by The Race, off the back of the current struggles, if he still believed he could be world champion with Ferrari, he said: “I do." But he added: "And next year will be a crucial year.”
This is why Leclerc thinks that where teams end up next year will pretty much decide their fate in F1 for the medium term. “It's tough but at the same time, honestly, I think the whole team is hugely motivated for next year, because it's such a big change, a huge opportunity to show what Ferrari is capable of,” he said. “And it's now or never. So I really hope that we will start this new era on the right foot, because, yeah, it's important for the four years after.”
'Now or never';
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/c...-warning-2026/
Hamilton Demands Ferrari Reset—Who Loses the Radio?
8 Dec 2025
Alex Albuquerque
FastestLap.com
Hamilton hints at Ferrari shake-up as engineer dynamic stays under scrutiny. Lewis Hamilton isn’t hiding behind platitudes anymore. On the eve of the Abu Dhabi finale, the seven-time champion made clear Ferrari’s winter to-do list isn’t just about wind tunnels and updates. It’s about people. “Whether people need to move into different positions to work better,” he said, is on the table when he sits down with Ferrari’s key decision-makers. Coming after a season of radio friction and thin results, his words land with weight.
Paired with Riccardo Adami, the experienced voice who previously steered Carlos Sainz. On paper, solid. In practice, it’s been scratchy. We’ve heard the sharp edges over team radio this year, and seen the body language too. Hamilton has publicly pushed back against the idea of a broken partnership — “Our relationship is great… We don’t have any problems whatsoever,” he said earlier in the season, dismissing the noise as “BS” — but he also hasn’t glossed over how hard it’s been to mash styles together on the fly.
In Abu Dhabi, he described a meticulous personal audit running all season long: every weekend catalogued, decisions logged, mistakes dissected. The winter plan? Analyse it all, then press for changes in how his camp, and the wider team, works around him. “My surroundings in terms of personal personnel, team personnel, how you utilise people… all these different things need to be looked upon… so that we can optimise our teamwork.” That reads like more than a casual tidy-up. It’s a driver making the case that Ferrari’s structure around him needs rebalancing — and yes, that could extend to who sits on the other end of the radio next year.
“Optimise our teamwork”;
https://fastestlap.com/news/hamilton...ses-the-radio/
Ferrari set to copy Mercedes and abandon Sebastian Vettel innovation to help Lewis Hamilton in 2026
8 Dec 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
Ferrari planning new steering wheel in their 2026 F1 car to help Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton has spent much of this season trying to help Ferrari improve, using the experience he gained from winning six titles at Mercedes to his advantage. Some Ferrari staff haven’t appreciated Hamilton’s advice, but a report from Motorsport Italia has shared more details about the work being done by Ferrari ahead of next year.
Arthur Leclerc was in Hamilton’s car in FP1 in Abu Dhabi, testing a ‘prototype’ steering wheel, which is slightly lighter and doesn’t contain as many of the myriad of options that the current part does. This simplified steering wheel is said to be more similar to what Hamilton worked with at Mercedes.
However, it should be noted that Hamilton requested steering wheel changes before his Ferrari debut at the start of the year, but continuing to evolve in his requests should only suit him better in the future. The layout of the buttons has been ‘completely redesigned’ with 2026 new aerodynamic rules in mind. DRS was officially retired at the end of Sunday’s race, but there will still be different racing modes that drivers have to adapt to.
‘Helping Ferrari improve’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fer...ilton-in-2026/
Martin Brundle gives his verdict on Lewis Hamilton’s F1 future after harrowing 2025 Ferrari season
8 Dec 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
Two former drivers were speaking about the seven-time world champion’s future. Rosberg said: “It’s horribly tough. And that’s why, actually, Martin, do you think he might call it a day on this incredible career and retire?”
Brundle replied: “The trouble is that his stats and his reputation are not being enhanced with this. But I would have thought he’ll wait and see if Ferrari get it together for 2026, see how he’s going, see how they’re going, if he’s enjoying it. I think if we were asking that question a year from now, when he’s had a difficult season. I would be very surprised if he just switches it off in the winter. What do you think?”
Rosberg continued: “I think he has to continue, because he’s stopping, that’s not cool. He only just started this Ferrari project, and to give up in a way, after only one season, I think that doesn’t work. So, he has to continue and give it another shot and hope that maybe he feels comfortable and that next year’s car, and that maybe that car is also a good car, because this year’s car is not great.”
‘Verdict’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/mar...errari-season/
Ex-Ferrari boss questions Hamilton signing after first troubled season
9 Dec 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com
Former Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene spoke about the decision he would’ve made on Lewis Hamilton if he were still running the team. The seven-time world champion was the bold gambit Maranello’s top management were willing to make to haul Ferrari back to the top and build a dream line-up alongside Charles Leclerc… … But the reality of this season has told a very different story, with Hamilton unable to score even a single podium and sitting miles behind his teammate in the standings.
“I honestly don’t know if I ever would have signed him,” Arrivabene told Sky Italy. “It’d be too easy to say no now, at the end of the season. The only truthful answer is: I don’t know. When you bring in a driver of his calibre, the team also takes on huge responsibilities. You can’t just assume that he’ll show up — even as a world champion — and magically change everything. You have to give him a competitive car and the conditions to do his job. You need real guarantees and you have to feel the weight of that responsibility.” Asked whether he’d have taken Adrian Newey instead, Arrivabene didn’t hesitate in his answer: “Yes. I’d have taken him without a second thought.”
‘Ex-Ferrari boss questions Hamilton signing’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/ex-fe...ettable-season
Lewis Hamilton reveals winter break plans: 'Phone going in the bin'
10 Dec 2025
Fergal Walsh & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365
Lewis Hamilton has shed light on his plans for the F1 winter break, stating he will be uncontactable as he prepares for the new season. “I don’t particularly feel relieved,” Hamilton said after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. “I feel fine. I feel pretty fresh. I’m just looking forward to the break." Reflecting on the season, Hamilton replied: “I don’t. I’ve said all I can about this season already. Just moving forward.”
As he prepares for the new campaign, Hamilton replied, “At the moment, I’m looking forward to the break, to disconnecting, not speaking to anyone,” he said. “No one will be able to get hold of me this winter. I won’t have my phone with me, I’m looking forward to that. I would say I’ve generally always had it around. But this time, it’s going in the frickin bin.”
“Disconnecting”;
https://racingnews365.com/lewis-hami...king-to-anyone
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Antonelli apologises to Verstappen for costing him F1 title.
Kimi Antonelli apologised to Max Verstappen after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, believing his Qatar mistake played a part in the Red Bull driver missing out on the world championship.
10 Dec 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe
Mercedes’ strategy in Qatar had put Antonelli ahead of Norris for most of the race, but after defending for several laps he slipped up while pushing for a podium against Carlos Sainz. “After so many laps in dirty air, I’m pushing so hard, the mistake arrived,” Antonelli said after the penultimate race. “At that moment I did a mistake and Lando passed me.”
While the two points from Lusail ultimately matched the title margin, several figures in the paddock stressed that the rookie’s moment was not the decisive factor. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff labelled any suggestion of intentional interference “nonsense,” adding: “He had a small moment. That’s all.” It was also noted that McLaren would have no doubt moved Norris ahead of Oscar Piastri in Abu Dhabi regardless, meaning the championship would not have hinged solely on the Qatar result.
After 58 laps in Abu Dhabi, he approached Verstappen in the media pen, embraced him and said, “I’m really sorry.” Verstappen immediately dismissed the idea that the teenager owed him anything, replying: “Mate, don’t be. It’s all good. No hard feelings.”
Max saying “mate don’t, it’s all good, don’t worry” to kimi who’s probably apologising omg ��pic.twitter.com/jcjQzak7fE
— zax (@maybezax) December 7, 2025
The exchange, captured by Mercedes’ social channels, showed no tension between the pair. Verstappen listened with a smile and shook Antonelli’s hand before the two went their separate ways, offering a stark contrast to the online hostility the Italian has endured since Qatar.
“Mate, don’t be. It’s all good. No hard feelings.”;
https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-k...atar-incident/
The Max Verstappen request that spoke volumes about Kimi Antonelli
Kimi Antonelli made an unusual post-race request to Mercedes.
10 Dec 2025
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net
Moments after crossing the finish line in P15, Antonelli asked race engineer Peter Bonnington for an update on the state of the championship.
“So Norris won the championship?” Antonelli questioned.
“Affirm, yes,” ‘Bono’ replied, to which Antonelli immediately asked: “How much?”
“So Norris P3, 16-and-a-half seconds,” Bonnington responded.
“No, but by how many points?” Antonelli clarified.
“So that was just two, just two points,” came Bonnington’s reply.
The 19-year-old Italian made a mistake on the second-to-last lap which enabled Norris to sweep past into fourth place and collect two extra points that would turn out to be crucial in the title fight. Antonelli inadvertently played a role in the title fight on two occasions that involved Verstappen, having torpedoed the four-time world champion into retirement at the Austrian Grand Prix.
On both occasions, Verstappen made it clear Antonelli had done nothing wrong and supported his younger colleague and friend. But Antonelli’s post-race actions in Abu Dhabi suggest he felt an element of guilt in Verstappen’s failed bid to become a five-time world champion.
‘ “No, but by how many points?” Antonelli clarified. “So that was just two, just two points,” came Bonnington’s reply’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/108814...kimi-antonelli
Wolff calls Abu Dhabi ‘mediocre’ – but admits he’s ‘pleased’ Mercedes finished P2 in championship
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff reflects on the Silver Arrows finishing second in the Teams' Championship.
10 Dec 2025
Formula One - Official Site
Mercedes secured second place in the Constructors’ Championship behind winners McLaren courtesy of George Russell’s fifth in Abu Dhabi. It meant the Silver Arrows finished 18 points ahead of Red Bull – but while team boss Toto Wolff was pleased, he was not over the moon with the race itself. “Our race can be summed up in one word: mediocre. It was a lonely one for George who wasn’t threatened from behind but didn’t have the pace of the front four cars,” Wolff explained.
“He was managing his tyres to bring the car home on the one-stop, and he did that successfully. For Kimi, he tried his best from a difficult starting position, but we just didn’t have the speed in the car to enable him to get back into the points. It is not the way we wanted to end the year, but we can be pleased we secured P2 in the Constructors’. Since the midpoint of the season, that has been our aim.”
‘Mediocre’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...S2yvdsUEXMV5o2
‘A dreadful race from start to finish’ – Russell rues ‘odd’ lack of pace in Abu Dhabi
It was a tough season finale in Abu Dhabi for George Russell, the Mercedes driver having slipped backwards at the start before ending the race in P5.
10 Dec 2025
Formula One - Official Site
George Russell was left bemused by having “no pace” in his Mercedes W16 during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with the Briton crossing the line in fifth on a weekend that saw the squad seal P2 in the Teams’ Championship.
“A dreadful race, start to finish,” Russell conceded afterwards. “We just had no pace – it was a bit odd. I was fifth, which is a result that was much better than the true picture. Obviously Kimi being down in 15th is quite abnormal, for us as a team to be that far off.”
“I think you always want to end on a high, but we had a goal these last couple of race weekends, and that was just to secure P2 in the championship,” Russell explained. “I think we’re all very glad this era has come to a close, because it’s been a real challenging one for everyone bar McLaren and Red Bull, and we’re excited for a clean slate.”
‘Dreadful’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...bE2heMX58Ykkis
Mercedes will cut number of F1 teams it supplies engines to – Wolff
10 Dec 2025
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
CEO and co-owner Toto Wolff says he and Mercedes chairman Ola Kallenius have discussed scaling back the number of teams which use its power units after Formula 1 introduces its new engine formula next year. “Our current mindset is, also discussing with Ola, that we will reduce the amount of teams we’re going to supply in the next cycle,” he told the official Formula 1 channel. He said the optimum number of teams is likely to be “between two and three, I guess.”
“It depends on new regulations going forward,” said Wolff. “Are they rather simple or not? What is it we believe we can learn by supplying more [teams] whilst at the same time needing to lock in some designs earlier?” Supplying a total of four teams means Mercedes will have to bring a total of 16 power units to the first race of next season. If you’re Honda on your own [it will be] four or five. So that means longer lead times, longer production cycles.
Hywel Thomas, the managing director of Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains: “We’ve shown in the past that having more than one team [means] you’re getting more data, you’re getting more information, you’re [covering] more kilometres,” he said. “Just because you’ve got all those cars. You’ve got four times the engineers all sitting around telling you ‘no, you can do this better, you can do this more this way’, and that is very, very beneficial to have all that coming at you. It doesn’t always feel like it, but it definitely is in terms of making a great product. I’m not even sure whether the right place is one team, two teams, three teams, four teams. I’m not sure. There’s definitely a sweet spot in there somewhere and I think it’s probably nearer four than one.”
‘Scaling back the number of teams which use its power units’;
https://www.racefans.net/2025/12/10/...ines-to-wolff/
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Vasseur shrugs off Ferrari drivers’ criticism: ‘It’s part of the job’.
“I would be destroyed if I had the drivers telling me that we are doing a good job” Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur.
10/12/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
Whether Ferrari finishes first or fourth, Team Principal Fred Vasseur said the internal culture demands continuous improvement. “It doesn't matter if you are P4, P3, P1. The DNA is to do a better job,” he said. “I accept this perfectly and the most important [thing] for me is that they keep the same approach to the debriefing. To try to get a better car, a better team, a better everything and it's like this that we will improve.”
Vasseur argues that silencing criticism would be a warning sign – not a solution. “I would be destroyed if I had the drivers telling me that we are doing a good job,” he said. “The summary of the season for a driver is to find where we can improve. Always that I'm not there to have [drivers telling me] 'we are doing a good job on this and this and this'.”
He emphasised that pushing the team to its limits is an essential part of both drivers’ responsibilities. “But their DNA and my DNA is to try to push the team to do a better job. It means, they have to come to us, Charles and Lewis, when it's not Lewis, it's Charles, it's both of them. They have to come to us and to push the team on the limit. Everywhere, on every single area and for sure, we can improve and we can improve everywhere.”
“The DNA is to do a better job”;
https://f1i.com/news/556202-vasseur-...f-the-job.html
Fred Vasseur gives thoughts on Hamilton/Leclerc complaints after Ferrari chairman criticism
10 Dec 2025
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur said he has no problems with his drivers complaining in the media as he is more focused on improving the team. The criticism of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc was put into the spotlight after Ferrari chairman John Elkann said they should “talk less” but Vasseur has taken a less combative approach, it would seem.
After a disappointing season, the Ferrari team morale took a hit when Elkann suggested his drivers should do less talking – leaving Vasseur caught between a rock and a hard place in terms of who he sides with. To his credit, the Frenchman managed to navigate the situation with minimal backlash and has now said he does not care what Hamilton or Leclerc say as his main focus is on improving the team.
“I don’t pay attention to the reaction in the TV pen,” Vasseur said after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. “The most important for me is to have a guy coming back to us and pushing the team to do a better job and to work all together to try to get better results. The fact that they are emotional sometimes on the radio and it depends on the guys. All of you know Charles, [he] is always a bit critical with himself first and with the team and with everybody, but it’s always with a positive dynamic.
‘Vasseur caught between a rock and a hard place’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/fred-v...rman-critcisim
Vasseur: "would be destroyed" if drivers praised Ferrari in 2025
10 Dec 2025
Owen Bradley
GPblog.com
Ferrari was forced to endure an extremely difficult 2025 season, with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton appearing frustrated throughout the year. Ferrari Team Principal, Frédéric Vasseur, has addressed comments made by both Ferrari drivers. "I would be destroyed if I had the drivers telling me that we are doing a good job." - Frédéric Vasseur
Ferrari Team Principal, Frédéric Vasseur, was asked about how the drivers are feeling. The Frenchman responded: "I would be destroyed if I had the drivers telling me that we are doing a good job. The summary of the season for a driver is to find where we can improve. Their DNA and my DNA is to try and push the team to do a better job."
Vasseur continued: "They have to come to us, Charles and Lewis, it's not Lewis or Charles, it's both of them. They have to come to us and to push the team on the limit, everywhere, on every single area. For sure, we can improve and we can improve everywhere." This comes after rumours that Lewis Hamilton wasn't being listened to by Ferrari, with ex-F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya stating: "The faster Ferrari’s team and engineers listen to Hamilton on how to make the car better, the better it will be for the team in the long term."
“They have to come to us and to push the team on the limit, everywhere, on every single area”;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/vasse...errari-in-2025
Ferrari boss reframes Hamilton's 'anger' following torturous F1 2025 end
11 Dec 2025
Norberto Mujica
GPblog.com
Lewis Hamilton finished the F1 2025 season P6 in the Drivers' standings, 86 points behind teammate Ferrari Charles Leclerc and with "a lot of anger." "Honestly, the most important for me is to have a guy coming back to us and pushing the team to do a better job and to work all together to try to get better results." - Frederic Vasseur.
After seeing out the F1 2025 campaign with a fourth consecutive Q1 exit in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton admitted to have been left with "just a lot of rage," comments which inevitable caught the media's attention. Ferrari team principal Fredereic Vasseur reacted to the seven-time world champion's comments understanding that they came from the consequential sensations after yet another poor result
Vasseur reframes Hamilton's anger as passionate proactivity. However, the Frenchman then highlighted Hamilton's action-taking attitude to setbacks, clarifying that emotional comments in the heat of the moment are not always a negative dynamic. "Honestly, the most important for me is to have a guy coming back to us and pushing the team to do a better job and to work all together to try to get better results," Vasseur added.
‘Vasseur reframes Hamilton's anger as passionate proactivity’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/ferra...us-f1-2025-end
Ferrari boss vows the issues that derailed 2025 F1 prospects ‘won’t be there next year’
11 Dec 2025
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week
“I think the philosophy of the car next year will be completely different,” Vasseur told media including Motorsport Week when asked if the lessons learned in 2025 would bear fruit for the team’s latest challenger next year. “Mainly the aero map of the car won’t be the same. And the issue that we have all this season won’t be there next year.”
While the Frenchman was confident that the regulations reset would eliminate any lingering weaknesses, he sprouted in the caveat of the team suffering from “other issues” that the new regulations might pose. “But we’ll have other issues for sure,” he clarified. “Tyres are a key factor all the mid-season. Not the mid-season, but this one is a bit different due to the layout of the track. The event Mexico, Austin, all these events.”
“You had a tendency that everybody was taking on the out lap. And it was crucial sometimes for 5 kph on the out lap. You were out or in the window. And this is making a difference of one or two tenths on the quali lap. But one or two tenths, once again, it’s a good or a very bad result.”
‘Issues that derailed 2025 F1 prospects won’t be there next year’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...ere-next-year/
Vasseur explains why Ferrari shifted focus to 2026 car back in April
29/11/2025
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
Team principal Fred Vasseur has pulled back the curtain on why the Scuderia decided to shift its attention to 2026 so early. Vasseur explained that Ferrari’s early-season missteps and McLaren’s rapid pace made the decision unavoidable. "We didn't start in the best way, there was the double disqualification in China,” he explained. “This cost us tons of points compared to the direct competitors. And quite early in the season, McLaren was so dominant in the first four or five events that we realised it would be very difficult for 2025.”
Vasseur made it clear that the decision to prioritise 2026 was shared across the team, including with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. "This decision was shared by everybody in the team," he said. "For sure, the drivers were part of this decision, because they are fully committed to the project. It's something that we have to share all together, that in this kind of situation you have to act as a team and it's what we did at this stage of the season."
With resources concentrated on the future, Ferrari also continued mechanical development to ensure the 2025 car remained competitive where possible. "At one stage you have a look at the championship, and it would be very difficult to come back on McLaren with the pace and points [difference]. And you say: 'Okay, with the resources that we have in the wind tunnel, let's be focused on 26. On the other end, you can still continue to develop the mechanical side and bring some upgrades on the car except aero, and it's what we did. Honestly, we had a good reaction to tough sessions and weekends, and let's see next year if we did a good job this season."
‘Fred Vasseur has pulled back the curtain’;
https://f1i.com/news/554796-vasseur-...-in-april.html
