Source:REUTERS/Jakub Porzycki
[Saba Sports News] In the just-concluded Qatar Grand Prix, the two McLaren drivers finished second and fourth, denying them an early championship and giving Red Bull driver Max Verstappen a chance to win. After the race, McLaren team principal Zak Brown admitted in a media interview that the team made a wrong strategic decision, stating: “We cost Oscar Piastri the win and threw away Lando Norris’ podium.” He emphasized that Piastri’s performance throughout the weekend was perfect and that the team’s decision-making held him back. He explained that the team had decided before the race not to pit if an early safety car appeared. This decision was based on the team’s assessment of their own pace and the drivers’ condition – it was not about seeking fairness between the two drivers, nor was it a communication error, but purely an issue of judgment. In our view, the impact of this mistake goes beyond a single race. Before the race, Norris held a championship point; a win here would have secured him the Drivers’ Championship early. Instead, he finished only fourth. Piastri, who started from pole, also lost his chance for victory and ended up second. In contrast, Red Bull’s Verstappen seized the opportunity to pit under the safety car, overtook his rivals to win, and successfully extended the championship battle to the Abu Dhabi finale.