McLaren torn into by F1 fans after Qatar GP mistake sets up nerve-racking Abu Dhabi decider

Formula 1 fans have been left fuming after a disastrous weekend for McLaren at the Qatar Grand Prix has left the three-way championship fight to be decided at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

The Woking outfit started with a front row lockout at the Losail International Circuit but ended with second and fourth-place finishes after choosing the wrong strategy during an early safety car.

Oscar Piastri maintained his lead, and Norris slipped to third behind Max Verstappen at the start of the race. A collision between Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly brought out the safety car, and while the rest of the grid pitted under safety car conditions, McLaren was the only team to stay out, which proved to be the wrong choice.

Norris had the opportunity to count Verstappen out of the championship fight in Qatar, but instead the battle will now come down to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with the Briton leading Verstappen by 12 points and Piastri trailing the Dutchman by four points.

Fans have shared their thoughts on the situation, criticising the move from McLaren.

“Just had to rewatch the race… McLaren seriously thought they could ‘catch’ a Verstappen that’s still on the hunt for the WDC… McLaren has done the most insane calls all season, but this was stretching it,” one fan wrote on Reddit.

Another added: “All I have are negative thoughts.”

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes

Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images

“After learning of the tyre issue earlier in the weekend, I thought any VSC or SC on or after lap 7 would be 20 cars in pitlane. Flabbergasted when 2 Papaya stayed out. Losing a cheap stop was immediately the wrong answer. They just had to play it a touch conservative, and they didn’t,” someone else commented, while another added: “This is the biggest f***-up I’ve seen in ages lol.”

Other comments included: “In my opinion they knew that they screwed up, but tried to keep Lando’s spirit up,” and “Standard McLaren strategy call. Based on optimism rather than realism.”

“If I quit my well-paying job and tell my spouse, ‘I have gained flexibility in my career’, I will receive divorce papers the next day. The pitstops required were literally limited this race. It doesn’t require a supercomputer to game out the possibilities and better odds. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes,” wrote another fan.

A particularly disgruntled fan added: “It’s a massive f***ing blunder. Everyone had questioned it during the race – casters, drivers, you name it. It’s like everyone was collectively flabbergasted by McLaren’s decision-making and strategy. They could’ve easily had P1/P2 or P1/P3 between Oscar and Lando – both scenarios would’ve effectively eliminated Max from the WDC fight.

“But instead, they got themselves into a nerve-racking three-way championship decider in Abu Dhabi. McLaren are lucky that Lando had managed to pass Antonelli on the final lap somehow – these two additional points can actually save Lando’s ass in the end.

“Other than that, there’s really nothing positive for them. They had no excuse to fumble it as Max was obviously slower, yet they did anyway.”