P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen is firmly in title contention heading to Abu Dhabi after a calamitous McLaren error in Qatar.
Max Verstappen has warned McLaren that “all is possible” after their decision not to pit under the Qatar safety car, which has greatly impacted the title race.
Verstappen emerged victorious in Qatar as both McLarens chose not to pit under a lap 7 safety car, resulting in their tires being limited to 25 laps maximum.
Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris needed to overtake Verstappen on track to win, but Piastri couldn’t get within 10s of Verstappen, and Norris finished fourth after overtaking Kimi Antonelli.
Heading into Abu Dhabi, the title standings are as follows: Norris – 408 points, Verstappen – 396 points, Piastri – 392 points.
Verstappen emphasized the open nature of the competition in Abu Dhabi, stating that they’ll keep fighting until the end and expressing satisfaction with the decision to box under the safety car.
Verstappen highlighted the importance of tire management in a high-wear track like Qatar and remains optimistic about the possibilities ahead, without worrying too much.
