P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren’s costly mistake in the opening stages in the Qatar GP could cost either of its drivers the title come the end of the season.
McLaren has acknowledged their significant error in the Qatar Grand Prix, which resulted in a probable victory slipping through Oscar Piastri’s fingers. Despite Piastri’s superb start from pole position and leading early on, a safety car deployment drastically altered the race dynamics. Surprisingly, every driver except the two McLarens decided to pit during the safety car period to adhere to the tyre regulations of a maximum of 25 laps per set. This unforeseen move caught McLaren off guard, as team principal Andrea Stella confirmed that not pitting was a deliberate choice made by the team. Consequently, Max Verstappen capitalized on the situation to snatch the win, with Piastri settling for second place and Lando Norris finishing fourth. This outcome has tightened the gap in the standings, with Verstappen now trailing Norris by just 12 points and Piastri lagging 16 points behind his teammate. Stella announced plans for a thorough review of the incident, with Piastri bearing the brunt of McLaren’s misjudgment by missing out on a potential race victory. Despite the disappointment, Stella emphasized the importance of learning from this experience to improve the team’s performance for the upcoming crucial season finale.
