The Drivers’ World Championship had already been decided before the final round in Abu Dhabi, but the battle for the Constructors’ title was still open. The two main contenders? McLaren and Ferrari. Red Bull, dominant in the previous season, was no longer in contention for the Constructors’ crown, but Max Verstappen still played a crucial role in the race’s outcome and Ferrari’s defeat.
The race took an unexpected turn from the start when Max Verstappen collided with Oscar Piastri. The Dutchman, starting aggressively, caused a collision with the McLaren driver, leaving both trailing in the standings. Race stewards deemed Max Verstappen primarily responsible for the incident and penalized him with a 10-second time penalty.
Gunther Steiner on Ferrari’s Defeat
Former team boss Günther Steiner commented on the incident during the podcast “The Red Flags”: “Max went at it very aggressively, and while Oscar might have been able to avoid the collision, you can’t plan everything at the start.” Gunther Steiner also emphasized that, despite McLaren’s directives to avoid collisions, “a driver can’t just give up and focus solely on key rivals. In racing, you have to be cautious but not at the cost of competitiveness.”
In the end, Lando Norris secured a crucial victory for McLaren, finishing ahead of Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. This result earned the Woking team 14 more points than Ferrari, closing the championship with a victory.
In a joking tone, Gunther Steiner added: “If Verstappen had taken out both McLarens, he’d have become Ferrari’s favorite—forever!” Ultimately, McLaren delivered an impeccable performance, surpassing Ferrari in the final showdown and giving fans an unforgettable end to the season.
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