Max Verstappen took a crucial victory at the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix, breathing new life into the world championship battle against Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The race was shaped above all by Red Bull’s bold strategic decision to pit Verstappen under the Safety Car, a call that proved to be perfectly timed and decisive for the final outcome.
McLaren chose a different approach, keeping both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri out on track. That decision ultimately cost them the win and reopened the world championship ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi.
Speaking to Sky Sport, analyst Matteo Bobbi delivered a blunt assessment of the situation. He stated: “The championship was practically over after Bahrain testing, and we should thank Max Verstappen for giving us a real title fight thanks to Red Bull and their courage.”
Bobbi argued that McLaren had enjoyed clear superiority from the very start of the season. He explained: “McLaren should have wrapped up this world championship seven or eight races ago. From Bahrain they had a rocket ship from day one.” For him, the decision not to pit under the Safety Car to cover Red Bull’s strategy was a major strategic miscalculation.
Why Piastri could become Verstappen’s unexpected ally
Bobbi then shifted his focus to Oscar Piastri, pointing out how the events in Qatar could heavily influence the championship showdown. He stated: “Lando Norris’s biggest enemy is Piastri, because he lost the world championship today.”
His comments became even more direct as he continued: “I believe he will do everything possible to prevent the British driver from winning it. No driver wants to watch his teammate become world champion.” According to Bobbi, internal tensions between the two McLaren drivers have been a defining aspect of the entire season. “Too many things happened this year that left a bitter taste for the Australian,” he added.
Bobbi insisted the scenario is not just about strategy. He suggested that Piastri could influence the title outcome directly if he finds himself in a decisive on-track situation. He said: “If he has the opportunity to trip Norris up, he will do it.”
These strong words highlight a delicate and increasingly complex situation within McLaren. Team principal Andrea Stella must now manage not only the fierce pressure of a world championship fight, but also a teammate relationship that appears to be reaching a new level of tension.
Verstappen’s victory in Qatar has once again transformed the championship picture. McLaren still has an extraordinarily fast car, but that alone is no longer enough to feel secure. With one strategic masterstroke, Red Bull overturned the race and put Verstappen firmly back into contention.
Now the battle moves to Abu Dhabi, with three drivers still mathematically in the hunt and the pressure building lap after lap.
The final showdown promises to be explosive.
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