The decision to leave both McLaren drivers out on track during the lone Safety Car period of Sunday’s (Nov. 30) Qatar Grand Prix opened the window for Max Verstappen to stay alive in his fight for a fifth World Drivers’ Championship in a row going into the final grand prix at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
Wyatt Watson, Tom Blackburn and Peter Molloy discuss McLaren’s blunder and the odds for the three contenders of Verstappen, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the Formula 1 season finale, with Norris leading the Dutchman by 12 points and his McLaren teammate by 16.
F1 Review: Max Verstappen Steals Qatar Grand Prix Win From McLaren; Title To Be Decided In Abu Dhabi
Plus, the trio talks about Isack Hadjar‘s promotion to Red Bull for 2026 and Carlos Sainz‘s second podium finish of the season, a first for Williams since 2015.
Podcast: Play in new window
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More
“The Pit Straight” is Frontstretch‘s open-wheel racing podcast, available during the racing season weekly on Tuesdays on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and right here on the web.
Wyatt Watson has followed motorsports closely since 2007. He joined Frontstretch as a journalist in February 2023 after serving in the United States Navy for five years as an Electronic Technician Navigation working on submarines. Wyatt is one of Frontstretch's primary IndyCar correspondents, providing exclusive video content on site. He hosts Frontstretch's Through the Gears podcast and occasionally The Pit Straight.You can find Wyatt's written work in columns such as Friday Faceoff and 2-Headed Monsteras well as exclusive IndyCar features. Wyatt also contributes to Frontstretch's social media team, posting unique and engaging content for Frontstretch.
Wyatt Watson can be found on X @WyattWRacing