McLaren Expected Verstappen's Straightforward Abu Dhabi Title Win

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella revealed the team anticipated Max Verstappen would race cleanly for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix title rather than deploy tactical maneuvers. The Dutch driver's straightforward approach—winning through pace rather than strategy—ultimately secured his fourth world championship while allowing McLaren to clinch the constructors' crown.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's decision to avoid gamesmanship during a championship decider signals a shift in modern F1 culture, where drivers increasingly prioritize clean racing over theatrical tactics. McLaren's acknowledgment of Red Bull's outright pace also confirms the Milton Keynes squad has solidified its position as the 2024 benchmark, overcoming mid-season struggles that briefly opened the door for competitors.

The Details:

• Stella confirmed Verstappen explicitly stated pre-race: "I’m going to do my race, I’m going to win it, and I’ll just need some luck," a promise the Dutchman fulfilled with a dominant victory.
• McLaren's split tire strategy with both cars starting on different compounds would have complicated any attempt to control the race tempo, making Verstappen's clean approach mutually beneficial.
• The team principal emphasized Red Bull's Yas Marina superiority: "Red Bull proved to be the fastest car once again," noting their one-stop strategy outperformed McLaren's two-stop approach.
• Stella credited Red Bull's technical resurgence since summer: "They clearly did a very good job overcoming performance difficulties," acknowledging their mid-season upgrades turned the championship into a one-team battle for race wins.

What's next:

While McLaren celebrates its first constructors' title since 1998, the Abu Dhabi result underscores the urgent need for 2025 development to close the gap to Red Bull's race-winning pace.

• The Woking squad must address its qualifying deficit—evident in Verstappen's 11 pole positions to Norris' zero—while maintaining the race-day consistency that secured second in the drivers' standings.
• Red Bull's late-season dominance suggests their 2025 concept may build on current strengths rather than radical redesign, potentially extending their advantage unless rivals like McLaren and Ferrari accelerate development cycles.
• Verstappen's clean championship win sets a precedent for future title battles, though teams will still scrutinize whether such sportsmanship persists when championship margins narrow in 2025.