Max dozen quit

Verstappen is breathing down Lando’s neck just 12 behind for title finale

- BY DANIEL MOXON

LANDO NORRIS faces a nerve-shredding final race showdown in Abu Dhabi on Sunday after McLaren's blunder cost him the chance to eliminate Max Verstappen from contention.

Instead, the Dutchman is now his main competition after a win was handed to him on a plate in Qatar last night.

Red Bull, like most other teams, brought Verstappen in for a cheap pit stop when the safety car came out early on.

McLaren decided against doing the same for Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Australian Piastri didn't have the pace to make up for ceding track position when they finally made their stops. Meanwhile, Norris finished fourth and now has just a 12-point buffer to Verstappen heading into the final race next weekend.

Afterwards, he admitted he "just wanted to go to bed" after the disappointment.

Norris said: "We made the wrong decision, that was clear as soon as it happened.