Disqualification, Disasterclasses, and Now a Meltdown – Are McLaren Throwing Away the 2025 Title
“If we had been in the position of how dominant a car McLaren had, the championship would have been over a long time ago.”
Max Verstappen made that remark before the Qatar Grand Prix weekend—and after the drama that unfolded under the Lusail floodlights, it is difficult to argue against him. His comment was not simply confidence or bravado. It has become a brutally accurate reflection of how McLaren’s mismanagement and driver inconsistencies have kept the 2025 championship alive far longer than it should be.
Realistically, had Verstappen been driving a car as quick and refined as the McLaren this season, he would have wrapped up his fifth world title several rounds ago—probably before the European summer break. Fans watching from home would have been hearing the Dutch national anthem on repeat, not just for his seven victories this season but for the title celebrations that would have inevitably followed.
Instead, the battle continues because Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, despite having the best machinery on the grid, have experienced self-inflicted setbacks and external disasters that keep giving Verstappen a lifeline.
McLaren’s Title Bid: Brilliant Pace, Chaotic Execution
Lando Norris entered Qatar with a real chance to clinch his maiden world championship with one race to spare. But once again, forces outside his control—and a few within—combined to derail the British driver.
The first major blow came earlier: the dramatic double disqualification of both Norris and Piastri at the Las Vegas Grand Prix for excessive plank wear. What should have been a straightforward points haul turned into a catastrophe. The punishment effectively reset the title battle, putting Verstappen level with Piastri and dangerously close to Norris.
Then, at Qatar, McLaren appeared poised to dominate again. They locked out the front row, Piastri had been flawless in the sprint weekend, and Verstappen was starting behind them after a messy qualifying. Yet on lap seven, an early safety car triggered a strategic implosion on the McLaren pit wall. While other teams reacted calmly, McLaren hesitated and stuck with a high-risk strategy that left both drivers exposed. They were sitting ducks once the race resumed, allowing Verstappen to pounce and seize control.
Despite all this, Norris still leads the standings with 408 points, Verstappen sits on 396, and Piastri is close behind on 392. The McLaren driver remains the favourite headed into the Abu Dhabi finale. But the margin for error is now frighteningly small.
Are McLaren Throwing It Away?
Considering the sheer performance advantage the papaya team has enjoyed for most of the season, the fact that the championship remains unresolved is almost unbelievable. Many fans and analysts are now asking the same question: Has McLaren bottled the title?
The honest answer is complicated. McLaren’s tactical mistakes have undeniably damaged their campaign. Yet Norris and Piastri must also shoulder part of the blame. At the beginning of the year, Norris struggled to match the pace of his younger teammate. Piastri, meanwhile, built early momentum with a string of consistent podium finishes.
But when Norris suffered a costly DNF in Zandvoort—an open door for Piastri to seize command—he faltered instead. His form collapsed, leading to a barren streak that lasted until Qatar, where he finally reappeared on the podium. That downturn handed power back to Norris and simultaneously opened the door wide for Verstappen, who has been slowly edging closer with every mistake ahead of him.
Verstappen’s Mindset: The Silent Weapon
It is also important not to underestimate Verstappen’s unique advantage in this year’s fight. Unlike the McLaren pair, he entered the season with no pressure. Already a four-time champion, and with Red Bull lacking the pace to consistently challenge for wins, Verstappen had nothing to lose. That freedom has made him calmer, sharper, and more dangerous. Every time McLaren stumbled, Verstappen was there—ready to punish the error.
His success has been built on a lethal combination of experience, instinct, and the psychological ease of racing without expectation. It is a blend that has turned him into an even more formidable opponent than in his previous title-winning years.
Should McLaren Have Imposed Team Orders?
Many critics argue that McLaren should have backed one driver—particularly Norris—earlier in the season. But doing so would have contradicted the philosophy that Zak Brown and the team have consistently upheld. McLaren values fair racing and equal opportunity. Prioritising one driver, even for strategic gain, could have destroyed the team’s internal harmony and credibility.
Yes, they may lose the championship because of it. But the alternative—manipulating results to secure a title—would have harmed something far more important: McLaren’s racing integrity.
A Three-Way Finale Worth Celebrating
Whether McLaren clinches the title or lets it slip away, one truth shines brightly: the 2025 season has delivered a spectacular championship fight. Three elite drivers, separated by just 16 points, will battle in the Abu Dhabi finale. And that drama exists because McLaren chose not to intervene.
If Norris becomes champion, nobody will care about the delays or the chaos. If he doesn’t, we’ll still remember one of the greatest title fights of the modern era.
