Overview
- McLaren kept both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris out under a lap‑7 Safety Car triggered by Nico Hülkenberg’s crash, while almost the entire field pitted and gained the decisive time offset.
- Team boss Zak Brown called it a “huge mistake” and principal Andrea Stella said the decision cost Piastri a likely win and Norris a podium; Norris said the team gambled and lost.
- Max Verstappen won ahead of Piastri, with Carlos Sainz delivering a surprise third for Williams; Norris recovered to fourth after a late pass on Kimi Antonelli.
- The championship remains undecided for the Abu Dhabi finale, with Norris on 408 points, Verstappen on 396 and Piastri on 392, leaving all three in contention.
- Stewards issued penalties to Esteban Ocon (jump start, 5s), Lance Stroll (pit-lane speeding, 5s) and Oliver Bearman (unsafe release, 10s stop‑and‑go), and a Red Bull radio suspicion that Antonelli let Norris through was denied by Mercedes and the driver, who said he made an error.