Shades of 2010.*
When the final race of 2010 in Abu Dhabi began, the three protagonists were lined up in the following order: Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) on 246 points, Mark Webber (RB) eight behind, and Sebastian Vettel (RB) fifteen behind Alonso. Lewis Hamilton was 24 points back with only the faintest mathematical chance — possible only if all three ahead failed to score enough.
That race turned on an unlikely figure — the Renault driver Petrov — who proved instrumental in keeping both Alonso and Webber stuck behind him. It left Vettel with just enough points to draw level with Alonso. How was the result decided? Both had five wins, two second places, and three thirds. Vettel won the title simply because he had three fourth places versus Alonso’s two.
Cue 2025, and suddenly Qatar makes déjà vu feel uncomfortably real. Norris sits on 408 points, Verstappen 12 behind, while Piastri has slipped to four behind Max in third.
But how did we even get to this point in the 2025 season?
Qatar is a McLaren circuit through and through — a place where their strengths shine unmistakably. Except that you can never rule out a mighty Max, and that is exactly what happened.
The sprint was predictable enough, with few surprises unless you count George’s unexpected second place and a labouring RB only managing fifth. Good points for the Aussie out front, and damage limitation for the other Papaya in third.
The main race saw the Ham once again relegated to the role of also-ran, starting as far back as in his recent outings. The red machines look lost in this 2025 format, with LeClerc only tenth on the grid. Their championship standing — a lowly fourth — hardly compares with the nail-biting second place of just a year ago.
Max, starting third, swept past a struggling Norris (starting second) and set off after Piastri.
Seven laps in, an ambitious Hulk clattered into an unwilling Gasly, bringing out a safety car. All the field bar the McLarens peeled into the pits to get their first stops done.
With the pack bunched up behind the SC, both McLarens were forced to push as hard as they could to rebuild the gap they needed to make their first-and-second hopes viable. But a freshly-shod Dutchman lurked close behind, shadowing their every move. Lap 24: Piastri pits. Norris the following lap. (A 25-lap maximum was mandated per tyre type.) And Max began executing the steps necessary to guarantee another win — keeping the McLarens just far enough away to prevent any meaningful attack. One more stop each, and Max was never headed. Piastri held second; Norris faded to a frustrating fifth until Antonelli had a moment that handed fourth back to the Papaya kid.
And what of the others? A DRS train formed, locking most drivers into their finishing positions. One or two unfortunate moments shuffled things slightly, but overall — in Bortoletto’s words — “Rather boring.”
Hadjar was among the biggest losers when his front tyre gave out just five laps from home. Still, the fallout dragged his teammate into a worthy ninth and delivered another points finish for the hapless Yuki.
Is this shaping up to be another 2021 — or even another 2010 — where a team’s reluctance to make the right calls hands the title to the underdog? One more race. Seven days. We’ll know soon enough.
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