🔗 Share this article

After a decisive victory at the Qatar Grand Prix, the reigning world champion has significantly reduced the margin in the title race. He is now positioned just twelve points behind leader McLaren's Lando Norris and ahead of teammate his McLaren rival, the stage is set for a thrilling three-way season finale at the renowned Yas Marina Circuit.

A Triumph Forged by Timing and Execution.

Verstappen's latest win was anything but conventional. While he delivered a flawless drive for Red Bull, the race outcome was significantly impacted by a questionable strategic call from the Woking-based team. Choosing to keep their cars out during an initial safety car period, McLaren presented the advantage to their rival, who seized the moment perfectly.

"I'm thrilled, I'm happy to go there and fight for it," he stated. "I go in there with just positive energy. I try everything I can but equally, if I don't win it, I still know that I had an amazing season."

This outlook as he puts it alleviates the pressure. The goal for the last race is straightforward: to maximize each opportunity from himself and the RB21.

An Improbable Turnaround Powered by Upgrades and Teamwork.

What makes this late-season charge truly astonishing is how far he has come back. Following the Zandvoort round in August, he was a staggering 104 points behind the then-leader his rival and had openly dismissed his championship hopes.

The reversal began with significant car developments introduced by his team at the Monza. Modifications to the car's floor and front wing rectified long-standing balance issues, allowing Verstappen to push to the limit with the chassis once more.

From then on, the results has been utterly spectacular, securing a quintet of triumphs and multiple podiums. He was quick to highlight the teamwork behind this comeback.

"We have triumphed where maybe we shouldn't have, by executing the optimal strategy as a unit," he explained. "My collaboration with my team on the pit wall and the every member... we are deeply connected."

The Stakes for a Memorable Showdown.

As the teams head to Abu Dhabi, the points situation is perfectly defined.

• The championship leader can secure his maiden world title if he beats both Verstappen and Piastri or secures a top-three position.
• Max Verstappen must win and needs that Norris is not in the top three.
• The third contender, who is by sixteen points, needs a victory and witness Norris place outside the top five.

The spotlight now shifts on McLaren, who have let a big points cushion disappear due to unfortunate events, including a double disqualification in Las Vegas. From his perspective, being the hunter creates an atmosphere of fearlessness, transforming the final race into a straight opportunity to attack with zero pressure.