A safety car, strict tire limits, and one massive strategic misread turned Qatar into a case study in how to lose control of a championship fight. Dick breaks down how McLaren stayed out when everyone else pitted, handed Max Verstappen clean air, and turned a front‑row lockout into damage limitation for both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

In this solo race notes episode, he explains why the 25‑lap tire rule mattered so much, how a simple pit‑stop delta turned into a 10‑second own goal, and why Williams and Carlos Sainz quietly delivered one of their most important results in a decade. Dick also looks at Ferrari’s struggle with sky‑high tire pressures, Fernando Alonso’s overachieving weekend, and why, if Max does take a fifth title, he’ll largely have McLaren’s Las Vegas and Qatar calls to thank. With Abu Dhabi looming, every point—and every strategy decision—now feels terminal.

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