After winning his first World Championship in 2025, Lando Norris has publicly apologized for "stupid" comments he made about Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. The McLaren driver is using his new platform to emphasize respect for the legends of the sport as he prepares to defend his title in 2026.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has stated that the team will continue its existing competitive strategy between its two drivers, often referred to as “papaya rules,” despite public criticism and debate throughout the 2025 Formula 1 season. Brown clarified that fairness between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will remain a priority.
The 2025 Formula 1 championship will be decided at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri enter the final weekend separated by narrow margins. Practice sessions have begun as teams prepare for the title decider.
Max Verstappen’s win in Qatar kept the 2025 F1 title fight alive and turned a strong McLaren weekend into a missed opportunity. Several drivers and teams left Lusail with momentum, while others lost points and confidence at a critical stage of the season.
Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix after McLaren misjudged key pit stop decisions, keeping the title fight alive. Yuki Tsunoda climbed from fifteenth to tenth, taking an important point in a race shaped by strict tyre limits and an early Safety Car.
McLaren fears that tyre durability issues seen at the Qatar Grand Prix could influence the title fight, with sharp gravel, rising pressures and unexpected vibrations creating unpredictable race conditions.
Pirelli has identified deep structural cracks across multiple tyres at Losail, prompting stricter monitoring as gravel-related damage increases the risk of punctures during the sprint and main race.
Four cars drop to the pit lane, Tsunoda starts ahead of Verstappen, and teams lean toward a medium-tyre sprint as clear skies set the tone for the night race.












