The Qatar GP should have delivered McLaren a significant step toward the constructors’ championship, given that the Losail circuit favored the characteristics of the MCL38. However, things didn’t go as planned for the Woking team. Despite a sprint race double win, McLaren lost three points to Ferrari over the weekend, slightly reducing their lead heading into the final race in Abu Dhabi.
McLaren holds a 21-point advantage in the constructors’ standings. After Saturday’s sprint race, expectations were high that Norris and Piastri would finish ahead of the Ferraris in the main event—a feasible scenario if not for Lando Norris’ critical error during a chaotic moment.
First, it must be said that the FIA mishandled the situation on Sunday. The double yellow flag that doomed Lando Norris was caused by debris left on the track, which could have been avoided if Rui Marques, the new race director, had acted decisively. Marques, replacing Niels Wittich after the latter’s unexplained dismissal post-Brazil, failed to manage the situation, leading to unnecessary chaos.
During this period, Norris didn’t lift on the straight under double yellow flags, earning a 10-second stop-and-go penalty. While harsh at first glance, the penalty was in line with regulations. The real issue lies in the lack of a brief Virtual Safety Car period, which could have prevented the incident. If handled differently, McLaren might have had both cars on the podium.
McLaren’s misstep and Norris’ FIA-related error
McLaren and Norris share the blame for not handling the situation carefully. Remarkably, Max Verstappen noticed Norris’ infraction mid-race, proving his sharp attention to detail even while driving his Red Bull.
Though Norris was clearly distracted, the team also failed to alert him adequately about the flagged danger zone. The yellow flag was eventually withdrawn while debris remained on the track. Understandably frustrated after the race, Norris acknowledged the error but highlighted the wasted opportunity.
“If I made a mistake, the penalty is fair,” said Norris candidly. “Of course, it hurt us; I could have finished second, but I messed up. I’m not sure exactly what happened, but if there was a yellow flag, I should’ve slowed down. If I didn’t, it’s because I didn’t see it or missed something. I’m not stupid; I know the rules. All I can do is apologize to the team.”
McLaren and Piastri concede to Ferrari
Despite the disappointment, McLaren still celebrated Oscar Piastri’s podium finish. The Australian didn’t match Norris’ pace all weekend, but his third-place result was the best possible outcome under the circumstances. However, finishing behind Ferrari’s resilient Charles Leclerc pushes the constructors’ title fight to Abu Dhabi.
“I’m happy,” Oscar Piastri said. “The race was fun, and this track is incredible, so it’s great to bring home another podium. The battles were intense, but the cars ahead were similar in pace, making DRS hard to use effectively for overtakes. The Safety Car didn’t help us, but that’s racing. We’ll give everything next week for the best possible result—it’ll be an exciting challenge.”
With a 21-point deficit, Ferrari isn’t the favorite in the constructors’ fight, but McLaren has shown lapses in detail-oriented execution multiple times this season. This could put additional pressure on the Woking team during the final showdown in Abu Dhabi. The British team has everything to lose, while Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will aim for maximum points, taking all necessary risks. Can Norris, Piastri, and the McLaren team handle the pressure to secure their first constructors’ title since 1998? The moment of truth is near.
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