But not telling Lando to follow Max in was a shocking decision.
I think of all the disastrous decisions that Maclaren made, the one not to pit Lando was probably one of the better ones. As their garage is right at the start of the pit lane, he'd have been tangled up with all the other cars coming in, and would've undoubtedly lost more positions on the track, and the car clearly didn't have enough of an offset over the rest of the field to reliably overtaken what might have been perhaps 3-5 cars. I think the decision not to pit hurt Lando the least (in hindsight)
Fun fact - there haven't been that many times where more than 2 drivers have been in contention for the title. The last five were
1981 Reutemann was leading before the last race but Piquet won the title
1983 Prost was leading but Piquet won the WDC
1986 Mansell was leading but the tyre blew and Prost was WDC
2007 Hamilton was leading but Raikkonen was WDC
2010 Alonso was leading but Vettel snuck under everyone's radar to win the title
The only excitement was caused by McLaren outsourcing their strategy to Ferrari.
True.
In their defence they ultimately walked away from Max in the sprint race and probably expected that to happen again - but it didn't!
I still think Piastri is an absolute paddy pants but it's not looking too good for him now as, unless he's winning and LN is lying 5th or worse in the last race, I think they may favour LN to get a McLaren DWC.
My daughter will be cheering Oscar on. But I've no preference on who takes the title.
I think Mclaren's decision looks more disastrous in hindsight but they really should have had a pre-planned strategy for what they would do if the safety car appeared on certain laps. The 25 lap max rule Pirelli imposed made the strategies a lot less flexible so they could have been pretty prescriptive around what they would do, it looks like that's exactly what every other team did.
I thought I heard Zak Brown say that they did have a plan for a safety car on each lap and for lap 7 it said stay out!
Can't help but think that this is somehow an engineered outcome - all hanging on the last race when it should have been done and dusted months, if not, races ago. 🙄
Do papaya rules allow Oscar to have an incident with Max?
Someone check my maths...
If MV wins in AD, LN can still win championship if he finishes 2nd or 3rd
If OP wins in AD, LN can still win championship if he finishes 4th or higher
My maths says Max 1st Oscar 2nd, Lando needs 3rd, Oscar 1st Max 2nd, Lando needs 5th.
Can't help but think that this is somehow an engineered outcome - all hanging on the last race when it should have been done and dusted months, if not, races ago.
Going to need a bit more info on how this has been engineered. Was is Norris' engine blowing? The skid blocks thing being a fix? Norris dominating in Brazil? I'm intrigued
My maths says Max 1st Oscar 2nd, Lando needs 3rd, Oscar 1st Max 2nd, Lando needs 5th.
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f1-2025-abu-dhabi-how-norris-verstappen-piastri-can-win-title/
Do papaya rules allow Oscar to have an incident with Max?
Yes, but only if Lando has a similar one with Yuki.
I know he doesn't need to but I really hope Lando wins the race to take the WDC, if not there will be loads of "he doesn't deserve it as Max/Oscar have won more races...."
Oscar certainly isn't going to help him though so its every man for himself.
Going to need a bit more info on how this has been engineered. Was is Norris' engine blowing? The skid blocks thing being a fix? Norris dominating in Brazil? I'm intrigued
No idea. I know it's not rational and it's proper conspiracy theory bllx but it just feels too contrived for McLaren to have such a massive advantage and for them to **** it up so royally.
In the middle of this, I’m really happy for Williams! Great to see ,them back being competitive at the pointy end
In the middle of this, I’m really happy for Williams!
and Carlos!
(Two podiums more than he would have got at Ferrari!)
In the middle of this, I’m really happy for Williams! Great to see ,them back being competitive at the pointy end
Me too. I know it's extra-shiny for social media etc, but seems like a really good team atmosphere too compared to some others.
it just feels too contrived for McLaren to have such a massive advantage and for them to **** it up so royally.
Guessing you weren't watching in 2007 then? Raikkonen won by a point despite being back in 4th for most of the season and being over 2 race wins behind in the points (old scoring system, 10-8-6...)
Hamilton and Alonso were ahead but their relationship fell apart mid season (if not before) and the team were chucked out of the wcc because of the Ferrari photocopies.
In the middle of this, I’m really happy for Williams!
Me too.
and Carlos!
(Two podiums more than he would have got at Ferrari!)
Yes, delighted for Carlos too, I rate him very highly, especially how he can "coach" the team whilst racing. Though about those podiums - Charles has 7. Both Ferrari drivers have more points than the Williams pair (yes even Lewis). Alex (currently) has more points than Carlos despite not having any podiums. Both have had their ups and downs this year and I'm hoping for more consistent results next season.
What did Hadjar do to deserve that?
What did Hadjar do to deserve that?
Scored more points than Yuki and in the "junior" team?
I meant that in the other sense. He seems to not deserved career blight by MV.
Ah. Good point.
Also confirmed (or at least leaked by Ted Kravitz, not sure it's official yet) that it's Lawson and Lindblad at RB so Yuki is seamless. Doesn't seem to to have hurt Gasly and Albon but I can't see another team taking him? Aston would be aiming higher if they do replace Stroll surely?
Tsunoda will be reserve driver for both Red Bull teams. I would like him to go to Indycars to see how he compares with top drivers in spec cars. I think he's better than his critics say, but no other F1 team will want him.
What did Hadjar do to deserve that?
I agree. It’s probably the worst seat on the grid. A complete loose / loose situation. Short of coming a close second to max, he will never be allowed to beat him, is the best he can hope for
Short of coming a close second to max, he will never be allowed to beat him, is the best he can hope for
I don't think Red Bull works like that. Max is treated as number 1 because he's the fastest driver they have. Ricciardo showed he could beat Vettel and ended up as the new number 1. If Hadjar can outqualify and outrace Max, I'm pretty sure Red Bull will be thrilled.
If Hadjar can outqualify and outrace Max, I'm pretty sure Red Bull will be thrilled.
I'll bet you a whole pound that we never see the day when a new spec front wing is taken off Max's car to be fitted to Hadjar's. Anyhow (and straying into the F1 2026 thread's territory) I think they'll both be doing a fair bit of development work for Ford's new PU next year rather than fighting over poles and wins.
I'll bet you a whole pound that we never see the day when a new spec front wing is taken off Max's car to be fitted to Hadjar's.
Max will start the year with priority because he's earned it. If Hadjar can outqualify and outrace Max and is in contention for the title and Max isn't, Hadjar will get priority.
But he never will be able to with priority given to max.
If you are fast you get the team on side.
Just as Max did when he arrived at Red Bull and muscled Ricciardo out of the door.
Pretty sure Red Bull will happy with a second driver that can reliably finish in the top ten each race, something they've not had for a while now! Maybe Hadjar should just ask them to repaint his RB car in Redbull colours, rather than get whatever they've set up for Max 😂
Toyota slowly tip-toeing back to a full F1 return!...
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/bigger-toyota-deal-prompts-haas-rebrand-for-f1-2026/
Toyota slowly tip-toeing back to a full F1 return!...
If you mean putting Toyota stickers on a car built by someone else, powered by an engine made by another manufacturer, then sure. If you mean owning their own team and building their own engine like Merc, Audi, and Ferrari, then very unlikely. If they start an engine program, I'll change my mind but I can't see that happening anytime soon.
...hence 'tip-toeing' comment! 🤷♂️
I can't see them back for this engine regs cycle - but I can see a return if F1 returns to less complicated V10s. Someone at Toyota really likes motorsport (and fast cars).
I know they have to run the young drivers in some of the free practice sessions, but awful timing for Oscar to give up his seat in FP1.
There was some mention of this in the Weekend Warmup - statistically drivers who don’t participate in FP1 are quicker come qualifying this season, slightly odd!
There was some mention of this in the Weekend Warmup - statistically drivers who don’t participate in FP1 are quicker come qualifying this season, slightly odd!
Generally FP2 is more representative of Quali because it’s at a similar time of day, so I guess there’s less chance of getting a bum steer from FP1 conditions, where—at some races more than others—conditions can be quite different.
I think I would be more worried about them breaking the car and your mechanics having to pull an all nighter to fix it for you
