Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes McLaren’s strategic blunder on the Qatar Grand Prix was the “wake-up name” wanted forward of this weekend’s title-clinching race.
Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri stay in rivalry for the F1 title forward of this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Norris has a 12-point lead over Verstappen, so a podium end for Verstappen could be sufficient to clinch the title.
For Piastri to grow to be the 2025 F1 world champion, he might want to win the race by defeating Norris and Verstappen.
A strategic failure in Qatar made the McLaren pair’s mission considerably harder.
In contrast to different groups, McLaren opted to maintain two drivers on observe beneath the security automobile on lap seven.
Though this gave him observe place, it successfully shaved 26 seconds off his race time as Verstappen was capable of cross by way of one of many two stops beneath the security automobile.
McLaren was unable to change to a one-stop technique as a result of guidelines Pirelli launched on the weekend (most 25 laps on one set of tires) on account of security issues.
It was a “robust weekend” for McLaren, however Montoya feels they should not be too conservative within the title race.
“I believe it is truly a very good factor to have such a tricky weekend,” Montoya stated on F1 TV’s post-race present.
“It is a large wake-up name. It is a good factor, ‘Oh my god, we won’t be conservative.’ All of the drivers have been fired. Lando is aware of he had a tricky weekend. He struggled from the primary observe and was sideways. He was struggling.
“He was by no means comfy right here and I believe going to Abu Dhabi can be an excellent observe for McLaren once more.”
“To be sincere, Max goes to do his greatest, however the large query mark is whether or not Purple Bull is healthier and when is McLaren going to go to Oscar and say, ‘Hey, we have to work collectively right here.’
Norris: “I’ve to clear my head”
Jolyon Palmer believes Norris stays the “large favourite” regardless of a troublesome second spherical.
Norris and Piastri have been disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix on account of extreme put on on their boards.
With out that, Norris would have received the championship in Qatar.
Coach Palmer known as on Norris to “clear his head” earlier than the massive finale.
“I nonetheless assume Lando is the massive favourite. He is received to get his head collectively,” Palmer added.
“I used to be simply considering, Max goes to be out of this championship as a result of after Las Vegas Land he had a 42 level benefit between successful the DSQ and making a strategic mistake and it went down rather a lot.
“They have been in all probability carving out the trophy after the checkered flag had fallen. It has been shut to date, however once you instantly really feel like another person may win, that is who it’s. It is an enormous psychological reset that he is having proper now, however I believe he can do it and McLaren nonetheless has the very best automobile.”
