Brown and Stella admit McLaren 'made the wrong decision' in Qatar

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has openly admitted to a "wrong decision" regarding strategy at the Qatar Grand Prix, which ultimately cost Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris a stronger result and allowed Max Verstappen to clinch victory. Despite locking out the front row, a critical Safety Car deployment saw McLaren remain on track while rivals pitted, leading to Piastri finishing second and Norris fourth after forced green-flag stops. Brown expressed regret, stating the team "let them down." The outcome means Norris now holds a narrow 12-point lead over Verstappen heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi, with Piastri a further four points adrift. McLaren's team principal emphasized the need for the team to elevate its game after recent point losses.