McLaren 'Gave Away' Piastri's Qatar Win, Says Zak Brown

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown expressed deep frustration after a critical strategy blunder at the Qatar Grand Prix cost Oscar Piastri a potential victory and Lando Norris a podium finish. What looked like a near-certain title double for McLaren in Abu Dhabi now sees Max Verstappen just 12 points behind Norris, with momentum on his side.

Why it matters:

McLaren's unforced error in Qatar significantly tightened the championship battle, turning what could have been a commanding lead into a precarious 12-point advantage for Lando Norris heading into the Abu Dhabi season finale. This mistake not only highlights the high stakes of F1 strategy but also puts immense pressure on McLaren to avoid similar missteps if they are to secure the title.

The details:

• Safety Car Blunder: On Lap 7, a Safety Car period prompted most drivers, including Max Verstappen, to pit. Both McLarens and Esteban Ocon stayed out, a decision that proved to be a "huge mistake," according to Brown.
• Tyre Limit Impact: A 25-lap limit on tire usage meant that Norris and Piastri, who did not pit under the Safety Car, still needed to make two more stops. This effectively surrendered track position to Verstappen.
• Race Outcome: Verstappen capitalized on this, winning the Grand Prix by eight seconds over Piastri. Despite a late error from Kimi Antonelli gifting Norris fourth place, the damage was done.
• Brown's Admission: Zak Brown candidly stated, "We clearly made a huge mistake... We gave his win away. I think it’s the reality. There’s no other way to look at it. And we gave Lando’s podium away. Very frustrating."
• Driver Frustration: Oscar Piastri echoed this sentiment, describing his frustration level as "pretty high," even more so than his Las Vegas disqualification. He felt he personally lost a win, while in Vegas he lost a P4.

What's next:

The championship battle now intensifies heading into the Abu Dhabi season finale. With only 16 points separating Norris, Verstappen, and Piastri in the standings, McLaren faces immense pressure to learn from its Qatar error and execute a flawless strategy. The team's ability to bounce back and avoid further mistakes will be crucial in determining whether they can secure the title against a resurgent Verstappen.