Winners and Losers from F1's Strategic 2025 Qatar Grand Prix
Max Verstappen continues his surprising comeback in the 2025 F1 title fight, defying odds despite a massive points deficit. McLaren, however, has shot itself in the foot with repeated strategic errors, turning a comfortable championship lead into a nail-biting finale. Carlos Sainz delivered an unexpected podium for Williams in Qatar, while Ferrari and Mercedes faced frustrating weekends. The championship now hinges on a tense Abu Dhabi showdown.
Max Verstappen continues his relentless pursuit, defying expectations in the 2025 F1 title fight despite a significant points deficit. Meanwhile, McLaren faces a critical self-inflicted crisis after strategic missteps in Qatar, putting their championship aspirations at risk. Carlos Sainz delivered a surprise podium for Williams, showcasing exceptional performance on a track not suited for their car, while Ferrari and Mercedes endured frustrating weekends with performance issues and strategic errors.
Why it matters:
Verstappen's ability to remain in contention highlights his unparalleled skill and mental fortitude, adding intense drama to the championship finale. McLaren's struggles, particularly their 'own goals' in recent races, underscore the immense pressure and razor-thin margins in F1, where even minor errors can have catastrophic consequences for title hopes. The unexpected success of Sainz and Williams demonstrates the potential for midfield teams to capitalize on chaos, while the woes of Ferrari and Mercedes point to deeper underlying issues that could impact their 2026 prospects.
The Details:
- Max Verstappen's Resilience: Despite trailing by 104 points earlier in the season, Verstappen has continued to deliver mesmerizing performances, keeping his championship hopes alive. His ability to claw back points, particularly at McLaren's expense, mirrors a 'horror movie villain' narrative where he constantly re-emerges.
- McLaren's Self-Inflicted Wounds: For the second consecutive race, McLaren made critical strategic errors, turning what should have been a comfortable 1-2 in the drivers' championship into a high-stakes finale. Norris now needs to secure at least third place if Verstappen wins in Abu Dhabi, a scenario complicated by recent race performances.
- Piastri's Setback: Oscar Piastri, who was a strong contender throughout the Qatar weekend, has now slipped behind Verstappen in the standings due to these issues.
- Qualifying Woes: Norris's unclean final qualifying lap and the disadvantage of starting on the 'dirty' side of the grid contributed to McLaren losing positions at the start.
- Carlos Sainz's Surprise Podium: Sainz secured an unexpected podium for Williams at the high-downforce Losail circuit, a track not expected to suit the FW47. His seventh-place qualifying and strong race pace, combined with quick pitstops, allowed him to surpass both Mercedes drivers.
- Williams' Progress: This result guarantees Williams' move from ninth to fifth in the constructors' championship, a significant achievement with contributions from both Sainz and Alex Albon.
- Ferrari's Continued Struggles: Ferrari chairman John Elkann's call for drivers to 'talk less and drive more' rings hollow as Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton struggled with the 'hopeless' SF-25. Leclerc barely made Q3, finishing eighth, while Hamilton endured back-to-back Q1 eliminations, finishing 12th in the race.
- Hamilton's Low Ebb: Hamilton's emotional reaction after qualifying highlighted the 'lowest ebb' in his career, raising concerns about Ferrari's 2026 focus.
- Fernando Alonso's Vintage Performance: At 44, Alonso continues to deliver strong performances for Aston Martin, qualifying fourth in the sprint and scoring points in both races, demonstrating his enduring hunger for success.
- Mercedes' Frustrating Weekend: Mercedes finished fifth and sixth, failing to capitalize on their early weekend threat to McLaren. George Russell's 0.011s deficit to Verstappen in qualifying, leading to a dirty grid start, and Andrea Kimi Antonelli's lost position to Sainz at the pitstop were key factors.
What's next:
The F1 season now heads to Abu Dhabi for a stifling finale, where the championship could be decided in a dramatic showdown. McLaren faces immense pressure to deliver a faultless weekend to secure their drivers' championship aspirations, while Verstappen will be looking to capitalize on any further missteps. The performances of Ferrari and Mercedes will be closely watched for any signs of improvement or continued struggle as they eye the 2026 regulations. Alonso's future with a Newey-led car continues to be a compelling subplot.