Overview
- Lando Norris clinches the championship with a Qatar win, as Oscar Piastri starts on pole and Max Verstappen lines up third needing to finish ahead of Norris to keep his bid alive.
- McLaren’s pace advantage showed in the sprint and qualifying, while Verstappen reported lingering understeer and tyre fade even after setup tweaks.
- Pirelli’s 25‑lap limit per tyre set effectively forces two stops and narrows strategy options, increasing the importance of track position from the start.
- The Lusail layout’s short DRS zone has made passing difficult, and teams flagged tyre cuts from sharp gravel that could trigger safety interventions.
- Mercedes sits poised to influence the front fight with George Russell fourth and Kimi Antonelli fifth, as McLaren maintains let‑them‑race guidance for Piastri and Norris and the war of words continues after Norris dismissed Verstappen’s ‘would‑have’ claim.