Formula 1 is heading towards an immensely exciting World Cup finale in Abu Dhabi, as Max Verstappen has moved up to second place in the overall standings with his victory in Qatar and is now only twelve points away from Lando Norris, who now has to tremble due to a strategically wrong decision by McLaren. The German and international press is going crazy.
The press reviews of the Qatar GP:
“ntv”: “Fatal McLaren decision gives Verstappen Qatar victory and World Cup chance – An early safety car opens up a pit stop for almost all drivers at the Qatar Grand Prix without much loss of time. All teams except McLaren strike. Max Verstappen thereby achieves an easy victory – and World Championship leader Lando Norris sees his lead shrink significantly.”
“motorsport magazine”: “McLaren gives Max Verstappen the victory, World Cup decision in Abu Dhabi – Max Verstappen wins the Qatar GP after a major strategy error by McLaren. World Cup decision between Piastri, Norris & Verstappen postponed until Abu Dhabi. Sensational podium for Sainz.”
“Picture”: “The title race in Formula 1 is coming to a head – a blatant mistake prevents Norris from winning the world title: Max Verstappen wins. Decision in the last race”
“formular.1.de”: “McLaren squanders the victory – and brings Verstappen closer! Max Verstappen wins the Qatar Grand Prix after a strategic mistake by McLaren – Nico Hülkenberg’s accident”
“kicker”: “Verstappen wins in Qatar and ensures a big finale for the world title – Lando Norris could have been crowned champion early this weekend, but the victory in Qatar went to Max Verstappen, who ensures high tension before the final Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi and is only twelve points behind the McLaren driver.”
“Sky”: “Who would have thought that! Verstappen, who had problems all weekend, is celebrating his seventh win of the season here and is fully back in the World Cup fight! Behind him, Piastri and Sainz complete the podium! World Championship leader Lando Norris only comes fourth – a setback in the World Cup fight.”
“FAZ”: “McLaren loses the strategy game at the Qatar Grand Prix. The beneficiary is winner Max Verstappen, who is making up ground on world championship leader Lando Norris. Now the three-way battle will lead to the big showdown in Abu Dhabi.”
“Auto Motor Sport”: “Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix and thus preserved his chances of winning the world title. McLaren made a strategy error during an early safety car phase. As a result, Oscar Piastri only ended up in second place and Lando Norris in fourth place.”
“South German”: “Verstappen crashes the papaya party: Lando Norris could have won the World Cup early in Qatar. But the McLaren command post is tactically slowing down his drivers – and defending champion Verstappen’s chances are greater than ever.”
“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.”
“Marca”: “Everything remains open for the final race in Abu Dhabi. And all thanks to an unimaginable mistake from McLaren, a major mistake on the pit wall when both cars were left on the track during the only safety car deployment and they were left to bleed out while Verstappen and the rest were able to make an almost free pit stop.”
Video: RTL reporter sees “huge advantage” for Max Verstappen
“Ace”: “The stars were aligned, which was an essential prerequisite. But McLaren did the rest with a catastrophic strategic decision.”
“El Mundo”: “A week after the technical disaster in Las Vegas, McLaren repeated its mistake and opened the door to victory for Max Verstappen in Qatar. A regrettable strategy with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris falling from first and second on the grid to second and fourth at the finish.”
“Sport”: “Verstappen turns the world championship on its head.”
“Tuttosport”: “Verstappen unstoppable.”
“Corriere della Sera”: “Verstappen’s magic once again. The World Cup remains exciting until the end.”
“Gazzetta dello Sport”: “Norris-Piastri-Verstappen, what sparks! The World Cup will be decided in Abu Dhabi.”
“View”: “When it comes to papayas, you have to go over the books: A week after the Las Vegas fiasco (both cars were subsequently disqualified), the team world champion now lost his nerve during a safety car phase in Qatar. Something that you definitely can’t afford to happen again in Abu Dhabi.”
“Tagesanzeiger”: “Two embarrassing mistakes from McLaren – and suddenly Verstappen is back to the world title.”
“Crown”: “Pure World Cup drama! McLaren gambles away – Max wins.”
“Le Parisien”: “With one Grand Prix before the end of the season, the Briton (Norris) is only 12 points ahead of Verstappen and 16 points ahead of Piastri. That was unimaginable a few weeks ago when Red Bull was on the ground and Norris was far ahead.”
“Le Monde”: “We’ll see you again next Sunday.”