Is it to be the greatest ever come back in Formula One history, will McLaren be accused of throwing the blue ribbon drivers’ title away? What’s for sure is that ahead of the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Max Verstappen whether intentionally or not had McLaren second guessing his moves throughout the weekend.
Once again Red Bull managed to turn around their troublesome RB21 at the last second before qualifying. Having trailed the McLaren pair for most of the weekend, Max Verstappen dominated the final session of qualifying with two laps quick enough for pole position.
With Lando Norris only needing to finish in P3 to claim the drivers’ title regardless and George Russell losing second place on the grid at the very last corner of his last qualifying push, winning the race for Verstappen would not be enough.
Could Red Bull manipulate the race?
This led to acute online speculation as to how the Red Bull maestro would conduct the orchestra and whether he would emulate a Lewis Hamilton tactic used against Nico Rosberg during the 2016 ruling of the season finale at the Yas Marina circuit.
Hamilton needed to win the race with Rosberg finishing fourth or lower to clinch the championship, slowed his pace at the front of the field with Rosberg behind him. He attempted to back his team mate into Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen in the hope that one or both would pass Rosberg.
Messages from Mercedes to Lewis to speed up were ignored by Hamilton who gayly replied: “I’m actually in the lead right now. I’m quite comfortable where I am”. The tactic ultimately failed and despite closing the gap to Rosberg Vettel was unable to make an overtake and Rosberg secured his first and only F1 drivers’ championship.
Verstappen had said nothing about his tactics for the race except the “we need some luck” yet McLaren were already speculating on ‘dirty tricks’ and mind games that the Dutch driver may deploy. McLaren team boss Andrea Stella mused over potential mind games and tricks from his team’s rival driver claiming: “I think it is an advantage, we have more options to play if you slow down too much, and you may be susceptible to being attacked with undercuts.
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Stella warns Max over playing games
“You may expose yourself in terms of being overtaken, so it is definitely good that we are there with two cars. That is the position I would take rather than having the two cars split and separated on track.”
Of course since Hamilton tried his tricks with Rosberg, the circuit has undergone some significant changes. The chicane before the start of the back straight has now gone, replaced by a wide open 270 degree angle corner which was were Verstappen passed Hamilton on the final lap in 2021.
Further the 90 degree left hander at the end of the Martina Bay straight has gone, again leaving a more open corner where passing is now possible. Its much harder to judge the speed to back up the pack behind you with the current configuration, although damaging the tyres of his competitors by keeping them in close contact seems his best opportunity.
Stella turned his thoughts to turn 1, where in so many Grand Prix chaos can ensue and drivers can lose a ton of places. Last year Verstappen starting in P3 touched the rear of Piastri’s car into the first corner, spooning b both cars around resulting in Piastri running last.
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Turn one tragedy?
The McLaren boss expects Lando Norris starting P2 to be “prudent” at the first turn given Verstappen and Piastri are starting on the clean side of the circuit and with a wider line into the relatively tights turn one.
“From Lando’s point of view, considering the inside of Turn 1 in Abu Dhabi, I think it would be relatively prudent as it is one of those, where from the inside, [you don’t] necessarily get the better exit and the car on the outside can close,” Stella added. “So I think there will be some prudence, which is what I’d recommend, but Lando is certainly in a very strong position.”
Stella’s advice to Norris appears to suggest Piastri is allowed to attack his team mate into the first corner of the race. Yet the risk of contact at this phase of the Grand Prix is high and its surprising McLaren haven’t been more explicit about there being no coming together from their drivers.
“In terms of the options that Max tries to play [games], honestly, I am not too worried. I think we will see some interesting racing, but I am sure all these will happen within the boundaries of sportsmanship and fairness,” concludes Stella.
Conspiracy theories abound
Online the theories of how Max and Red Bull Racing should play the race verged on conspiracy theories. One suggestion for Red Bull was as follows:
My strategy for tomorrow:
1. Under fuel Yuki’s car significantly. He will be much faster than other cars around him
2. Start Yuki on hard tyres so that he can go long.
3. When Lando pits and comes back behind Yuki, ask him to defend as much as he can and back him up into the traffic.
4. Just before Yuki runs out of fuel, pit him and retire him from the race.
Mayhem or mechanical failure can only save Max
Another fan suggested the Racing Bulls also employ this strategy with both drivers, this would create three road blocks for Lando Norris to overcome during the first two thirds of the Grand Prix.
Of course Red Bull wouldn’t employ such tactics and the biggest chance for Verstappen to win a record fifth consecutive F1 drivers title, is if there is some kind of mayhem at turn one where Norris is involved, another McLaren poor pitstop but even that might not be enough or finally a second mechanical failure for the British driver like the one that kicked him out of there Dutch Grand Prix this year.
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Ferrari arrive at the 2025 Formula 1 season finale with two drivers experiencing sharply divergent realities inside the same car. Charles Leclerc will start fifth after another controlled and committed qualifying performance. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, will begin from 16th after yet another Q1 exit, compounding a season-long trend in which the seven-time World Champion has struggled to find confidence in the SF-25.
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A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
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Personally, I feel Max raced as he has always done … hard but fair, and NOT prepared to use ‘tactics’ to prevent his friend from becoming World Champion. The man is a legend, and I’m also sure he is aware HE is the best racer by far on the circuit. To lose the championship by a mere two points when most certainly NOT driving the best car says so much about his abilities. Long may we be blessed to watch him race