F1 2025 Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix

[Simon_Nesbit]

Didn't have an issue with Lando not getting a penalty on Sunday, Uki defiently broke the 1 move rule when being overtaken which caused the issue for Lando.

Their own definitions decree that other penalties don't influence it. A penalty to Norris would be unlucky - but expected as that's the rules they've written.

...and FWIW, I thought Yuki's approach was not only dumb (fast through the corners, then fight on the straight), but actually dangerously stupid. I'd have DQ/black-flagged Yuki for breach of driving standards. Even a drive-through for that performance would have been light (and largely ineffectual).

Yuki SHOULD have held up Norris 3-4 seconds through the previous chain of corners (where it's essentially impossible to overtake) then let him overtake on the dirty side (not push him off the track).

 

[smasha]

Don't really care for the endless hypotheticals in that post but Oscar has no one but himself to blame for his safety car incident which led to the 10 second penalty. Slam dunk according to the rules and telemetry.

Even so, the penalty caused him to finish 2nd, and thus a 14 point swing to Lando which was still less than the 18 he lost from his DNF at Zandvoort which was entirely not his fault.

But as others have indicated, engaging in endless hypotheticals is interesting off-season chatter but you could make yourself blind by arguing in circles about it.

5 second penalty should have been.

 

[smasha]

It was sentiment based this WDC because Lando was in the team for a long time and that's why McLaren went all in on him.

 

[Eaglemaniac]

All that had to happen for Oscar to be WDC was McLaren not to swap the positions in Monza and to pit under the safety car at Qatar when everyone else did. That’s the extra 14 points he needed to get the job done.

 

[happy_eagle]

All that had to happen for Oscar to be WDC was McLaren not to swap the positions in Monza and to pit under the safety car at Qatar when everyone else did. That’s the extra 14 points he needed to get the job done.

All that had to happen for Max to be WDC was to not ragequit into George Russell in Spain.

Not really sure the point of clinging onto hypothetical scenarios like this. It didn't happen, Lando is champion, lets move on.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

It's the ******* Formula 1 championship! The guy demonstrated he was the best driver this season, he was the one who made the running of the seasion.

Simon Nesbitt (Thankfully) has listed many races where Piastri had one arm tied behind his back by the team, and happy eagle just wants you to "move on".

FMD Jatz and Forward Press crap on about the crash in Baku and the Silverstone thing. Big ******* deal. I mean, the whole body of work in the season, Piastri has done enough that a couple of **** ups wouldn't be a big deal. But these two don't recognise that.

I get PTSD, cos it reminds me of guys I've worked with in the past who used to be like that. They'd drag down morale.

 

[BIRDBRAIN]

It's the ******* Formula 1 championship! The guy demonstrated he was the best driver this season, he was the one who made the running of the seasion.

Simon Nesbitt (Thankfully) has listed many races where Piastri had one arm tied behind his back by the team, and happy eagle just wants you to "move on".

FMD Jatz and Forward Press crap on about the crash in Baku and the Silverstone thing. Big ******* deal. I mean, the whole body of work in the season, Piastri has done enough that a couple of **** ups wouldn't be a big deal. But these two don't recognise that.

I get PTSD, cos it reminds me of guys I've worked with in the past who like to like that. They'd drag down morale.

Verstappen was easily the best driver of the season IMO. Piastri in the best car has managed to finish 3rd in a 2 horse race.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Verstappen was easily the best driver of the season IMO. Piastri in the best car has managed to finish 3rd in a 2 horse race.

Were you paying attention to the season, or is this a case of recency bias?

Piastri made the season, and Verstappen wouldn't have got near Norris if he weren't so good.

Verstappen also benefits from the team being slanted towards him the same way McLaren is with Norris, or even more slanted.

No RB driver ate into the points Verstappen could score, whereas Norris had to deal with Piastri being better than him most of the time.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

And this ptrg dude?

Imagine calling Piastri a "cuck"?

What's next, Claudia Schiffer's an ugly skank?

 

[BIRDBRAIN]

Were you paying attention to the season, or is this a case of recency bias?

Piastri made the season, and Verstappen wouldn't have got near Norris if he weren't so good.

Verstappen also benefits from the team being slanted towards him the same way McLaren is with Norris, or even more slanted.

No RB driver ate into the points Verstappen could score, whereas Norris had to deal with Piastri being better than him most of the time.

Made the season? He had 6 races in a row where he couldn't even get on the podium, driving the best car. That's no way to win the WDC. To win the WDC you have to finish ahead of your rivals, not behind them.

Honestly whichever McLaren driver won I consider a Damon Hill-esque WDC. I may be proven wrong in time but Lando is certainly among the lower ranks of world champions for now.

 

[Gasometer]

 

[Australian Randall]

I don’t think that was on Oscar. The technicians had all the telemetry and his car “should” have been tracking on rails like Lando. Instead he was battling with the midfielders in a poorly handling car.

Because Lando was driving it better.

 

[Barrybran]

Because Lando was driving it better.

I think the past two weeks highlights that isn't the whole story

 

[lionbear]

It was sentiment based this WDC because Lando was in the team for a long time and that's why McLaren went all in on him.

That and a Brit winning the WDC is worth alotmore to a Brit based team.

 

[lionbear]

I think the past two weeks highlights that isn't the whole story

I dont think i would include Sunday in that, Lando raced knowing he only had to finish third and not get into any trouble and thats what happened, I would say McLaren wasn't agressive enough with Oscar's game plan, but the sad reality is they needed him second and not tussling with Max incase he needed to drop back and let Lando into second and protect him from Lecerc and Russell (Although I think Russell if he ended up quicker would never have pushed Lando because he would want his mate and fellow countrymen to be WDC)

Lando's tactic's on Sunday reminded me of Alain Prost which was basically "I need third to secure the drivers championship so thats what I will make sure I do with no risk"
Thus why Oscar's overtake in lap one was great, but it wasn't talked about because we all knew Lando didn't want to race, third was all he needed and not being taken out by Max or Oscar.

 

[Barrybran]

I dont think i would include Sunday in that, Lando raced knowing he only had to finish third and not get into any trouble and thats what happened, I would say McLaren wasn't agressive enough with Oscar's game plan, but the sad reality is they needed him second and not tussling with Max incase he needed to drop back and let Lando into second and protect him from Lecerc and Russell (Although I think Russell if he ended up quicker would never have pushed Lando because he would want his mate and fellow countrymen to be WDC)

Lando's tactic's on Sunday reminded me of Alain Prost which was basically "I need third to secure the drivers championship so thats what I will make sure I do with no risk"
Thus why Oscar's overtake in lap one was great, but it wasn't talked about because we all knew Lando didn't want to race, third was all he needed and not being taken out by Max or Oscar.

That's pretty much my point. Oscar's driving was fine.

 

[Australian Randall]

That's pretty much my point. Oscar's driving was fine.

Not consistent enough.

 

[Barrybran]

Not consistent enough.

Going back to my point above, Oscar's last two weeks highlighted that Oscar's driving wasn't an issue.

 

[Australian Randall]

Going back to my point above, Oscar's last two weeks highlighted that Oscar's driving wasn't an issue.

Being good at two tracks is little good if you were poor at the previous six or seven.

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

It's the ******* Formula 1 championship! The guy demonstrated he was the best driver this season, he was the one who made the running of the seasion.

Simon Nesbitt (Thankfully) has listed many races where Piastri had one arm tied behind his back by the team, and happy eagle just wants you to "move on".

FMD Jatz and Forward Press crap on about the crash in Baku and the Silverstone thing. Big ******* deal. I mean, the whole body of work in the season, Piastri has done enough that a couple of **** ups wouldn't be a big deal. But these two don't recognise that.

I get PTSD, cos it reminds me of guys I've worked with in the past who used to be like that. They'd drag down morale.

Nah, I think that was pretty clearly Max still. Verstappen is head and shoulders above anyone else in the field. He's legitimately in discussion for GOAT, and likely close to his peak powers.

I have Oscar next, but arguments could be made for any of he, Leclerc, Norris or even George. Certainly none have elevated themselves in the way that Max can/has.

McLaren started the season with the dominant car, developed it to suit Norris (until the point he was able to beat Oscar) and then sat back. Ferrari, Mercedes and RB started a tier below and despite closing the gap never seemed the best car. Once RB got close in performance, Max dominated.

 

[happy_eagle]

I think the past two weeks highlights that isn't the whole story

Lando was quicker in Abu Dhabi
Was only a tenth behind in Qatar

 

[lionbear]

Nah, I think that was pretty clearly Max still. Verstappen is head and shoulders above anyone else in the field. He's legitimately in discussion for GOAT, and likely close to his peak powers.

I have Oscar next, but arguments could be made for any of he, Leclerc, Norris or even George. Certainly none have elevated themselves in the way that Max can/has.

McLaren started the season with the dominant car, developed it to suit Norris (until the point he was able to beat Oscar) and then sat back. Ferrari, Mercedes and RB started a tier below and despite closing the gap never seemed the best car. Once RB got close in performance, Max dominated.

I thought this was Max's best season in F1 which is funny when he didn't win the World Championship.

I guess once both Oscar and Lando retire we will find out how much the improvements to the McLaren Favored Lando over Oscar in their autobiographies.

I think we have to appreciate how good Oscar's season was and look at Nico Rosberg's World Championship to realise how tough it is to win a World Championship when you are the number 2 driver.

For me current F1 driver rankings at the end of 2025:
(Based on if I was starting an F1 Team in 2026 and I had to sign 2 current drivers for my cars)

1. Max

Daylight

2. Oscar (ON THE RISE)
3. Leclerc
4. Norris
5. Sainz
6. George
7. Lewis (Was number 1 five years ago, think age is starting to catch up)
8. Antonelli (ON THE RISE)
9. Albon

10. Hulkenburg
11. Alonso (Age has really caught up with him)
12. Bearman (will be interesting once he moves into a more recognised seat)
13. Hadjar
14. Lawson
15. Ocon
16. Bortoleto
17. Gasly
18. Colapinto

Daylight

19. Tsunoda

Extra Extra Daylight


20. Stroll

You could throw a blanket over 2nd to 9th and 10th to 18th, I wouldn't question anyone moving these guys up or down in that order.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I dont think i would include Sunday in that, Lando raced knowing he only had to finish third and not get into any trouble and thats what happened, I would say McLaren wasn't agressive enough with Oscar's game plan, but the sad reality is they needed him second and not tussling with Max incase he needed to drop back and let Lando into second and protect him from Lecerc and Russell (Although I think Russell if he ended up quicker would never have pushed Lando because he would want his mate and fellow countrymen to be WDC)

Lando's tactic's on Sunday reminded me of Alain Prost which was basically "I need third to secure the drivers championship so thats what I will make sure I do with no risk"
Thus why Oscar's overtake in lap one was great, but it wasn't talked about because we all knew Lando didn't want to race, third was all he needed and not being taken out by Max or Oscar.

That's why the antonelli thing was important. If lando needed the extra 2 points he would have been forced to race Oscar or max for position-as it was he could just settle in 3rd.

 

[smasha]

Would Oscar have been champion without Zac's influence?
I say yes.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Would Oscar have been champion without Zac's influence?
I say yes.

People love to give Zac shit. He's an easy target. Overweight. American.

But he's dragged McLaren from a team that finished 9th in the Constructors in 2017 to one that won this year. I don't like him much, but you can make the argument that without him McLaren don't have a championship-winning car.