SQUEAKY VROOM TIME

It all goes to final race after McLaren's strategy disaster sees Verstappen take the win and reduce gap on leader Norris to just 12 points

- DANIEL MOXON

AHEAD of the Qatar weekend, Max Verstappen named McLaren's blunders as the main reason why he has stayed in this Formula One title fight.

Yesterday, they slipped up again to not only allow the Red Bull racer to remain in contention, but to give him a real chance of denying another British driver on the final day.

Of course, that's how he became world champion for the first time, slipping past Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of that highly controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi race.

And now, as he searches for a fifth consecutive crown, the Dutchman is MYCO only 12 points behind Lando Norris (circle, left). Oscar Piastri is four points further adrift, giving us a first three-horse title showdown on the final day since 2010.