International press for F1
“McLaren would shoot themselves in the feet”
12/01/2025 – 7:45 a.mReading time: 3 minutes
The title fight in Formula 1 is more exciting than ever before. The international press is also concerned about this.
It couldn’t be more exciting: Max Verstappen won the race in Qatar and shortened the gap to the leader in the drivers’ championship, Lando Norris. The McLaren driver is only twelve points ahead. Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri is also still within reach, 14 points behind.
At the last race in Abu Dhabi, all three drivers have a chance of winning the title. This is also commented on by the international press, which also sharply criticized McLaren’s pit stop strategy in Qatar.
“AD”: “After his masterpiece in Qatar, Max Verstappen can seriously dream of the title again: The fight for the Formula 1 championship is entering the exciting final phase. The Formula 1 season reaches its climax in the very last race of the season. At McLaren they will ask themselves out loud: How on earth could it happen that the title fight is still not decided before the very last race in Abu Dhabi?”
“Telegraaf”: “For the first time since 2010, at least three drivers still have a chance of winning the Formula 1 world title, with only one race left to drive. Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix, mercilessly exploiting a fatal mistake by McLaren.”
“Independent”: “With his victory at the Qatar Grand Prix, Max Verstappen extends the fight for the Formula 1 title after Norris’ nightmare.”
“Guardian”: “Verstappen had a mountain to climb and from third on the grid, victory was a great result that made him an absolute contender for the final. It is remarkable indeed that he is so close and still in the race at the final round of the season.”
“Daily Mail”: “Give McLaren a gun and they would shoot themselves in the foot. So Lando Norris, the worry-maker, goes to the season finale in Abu Dhabi, where the title is still up for grabs. And the indomitable Max Verstappen, winner under the floodlights in Qatar, is still in the hunt for his fifth world title in a row thanks to a catastrophic strategy error by his rivals.”
“Sun”: “McLaren’s pit stop fiasco gives Max Verstappen a huge boost in his bid to defend the Formula 1 title, while conspiracy theories circulate.”
“Mundo Sports”: “You couldn’t wish for more for the finale of the Formula 1 World Championship with the race in Abu Dhabi. That’s where the curtain falls on the big horsepower circus.”