(ESP-ENG) McLaren sigue en picada.
Hello friends, good vibes to all.

And yes, the main photo is of Max Verstappen because he won the Qatar Grand Prix thanks to a team that keeps sabotaging itself, just as I said last week. The things that needed to happen for Lando Norris to clinch the championship didn't happen; instead, the opposite occurred, leaving the season to be decided in the final race in Abu Dhabi next weekend. And we're talking about decisions from both the FIA and the McLaren team itself that made this Qatar Grand Prix, a rather dull race in terms of its track, take on a different character, because what was really expected was a 57-lap procession, which is exactly what the sprint race turned out to be.
What were Max or Piastri's chances of survival? Well, one of them would win the race and Lando would finish outside the top three, and voilà, wishes granted. Everything, including the sprint race, had gone as expected with both McLarens leading. The picture changed yesterday. To understand all this, some context is needed, and it starts with the FIA's decision to limit teams to a maximum of 25 laps per tire, meaning they would have to pit twice. The reasons are strange; they say it's for safety, but I'm more inclined to think it was purely for the sake of the spectacle, to add some spice to an otherwise boring circuit with only one DRS zone and no overtaking opportunities.


The strategy was simple: pit on lap 25 and then again when the tires needed it. What changed everything? A Safety Car triggered by contact with Hulkenberg on lap 7, leaving exactly 50 laps to go. It couldn't be more coincidental. EVERY team pitted during that window except McLaren. I think this has been one of the most incomprehensible and absurd decisions I've seen lately in an F1 race, especially considering both their drivers are fighting directly for the championship. It seems like McLaren didn't want either of them to win. Both what happened last week and what happened yesterday are worth studying. I don't think they even do things like that to a rookie team.
Obviously, the strategy favored those who pitted first, including Verstappen, and with that, the Dutchman took the lead at some point in the race and never relinquished it. The McLarens' second pit stop benefited Piastri a bit more, while Lando dropped to fifth. Following this, another incident occurred that generated much discussion yesterday. On the final lap, Antonelli (P4) had a spin on the track, which allowed Lando, at the last minute, to snatch fourth place. Many say that this was intentional because Norris ultimately gained two more points, which are vital at this stage. I prefer to believe that it was indeed a mistake by the driver while chasing Sainz and not a maneuver by Mercedes to prevent Max from extending his lead. Toto Wolff denied this and gave his full support to his driver.
https://cdn.motorsport.com/images/mgl/6zoJo1p0/s700/andrea-kimi-antonelli-mercedes.webp
https://www.excelsior.com.mx/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/media/pictures/2025/11/30/3426608.jpg
Al final Verstappen se queda con la carrera, Piastri segundo y un muy merecido P3 para Carlos Sainz. ¿Como queda la mesa servida para el domingo? - 12 puntos de diferencia entre Norris y Verstappen y 16 entre Lando y Piastri. El pronóstico es reservado para Abu Dhabi, esto tiene aires al 2021 muy grandes. Viendo lo sucedido ayer cualquier cosas, y es que literalmente cualquier cosa, puede pasar. Nos toca esperar unos pocos días nada más.
In the end, Verstappen won the race, Piastri finished second, and Carlos Sainz earned a well-deserved P3. So, what does the field look like for Sunday? - A 12-point gap between Norris and Verstappen, and 16 between Lando and Piastri. The outcome is anyone's guess for Abu Dhabi; this has a strong 2021 feel to it. Given what happened yesterday, anything—and I mean literally anything—can happen. We just have to wait a few more days.
¡Un abrazo a todos, nos leemos en la próxima!
Well folks, that's all for today. I hope you enjoyed it.
¡Hugs to everyone, see you next time!
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