McLaren Missteps Propel Verstappen into Title Contention Ahead of Abu Dhabi Finale

In an unexpected twist to this year's Formula 1 championship battle, Red Bull's Max Verstappen has clawed his way back into title contention following a series of costly McLaren errors. The Dutch driver now sits just 12 points behind leader Lando Norris heading into this weekend's decisive Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Season of Shifting Fortunes

Verstappen's championship hopes appeared dashed after August's Dutch Grand Prix, where he trailed Norris by 70 points and rookie teammate Oscar Piastri by a staggering 104. However, a combination of Red Bull's technical improvements and McLaren's missteps has dramatically reshaped the title picture.

"When we were over 100 points behind, even I thought it was impossible," Verstappen admitted. "But in Formula 1, things can change very quickly."

Red Bull's Resurgence

The turning point came at September's Italian Grand Prix, where Red Bull introduced crucial floor upgrades. These enhancements sparked an eight-race podium streak for Verstappen, including four victories. Team principal Laurent Mekies, who replaced Christian Horner mid-season, has been credited with stabilizing the team's performance.

McLaren's Costly Errors

The British team's championship challenge unraveled through several critical incidents:

• Piastri's double crash in Azerbaijan qualifying and race
• Norris' failure to capitalize on prime opportunities
• Internal tensions between drivers affecting team dynamics

Title Decider Preview

With everything to play for in Abu Dhabi, the championship could be decided by:

The season finale promises high drama as Verstappen seeks an unprecedented fifth consecutive championship, while McLaren aims to secure their first drivers' title since Lewis Hamilton's 2008 triumph.