Minardi: Every mistake can affect the result.

      In a column on his official website, former owner of his eponymous team Giancarlo Minardi summed up the Qatar Grand Prix…

      Giancarlo Minardi: "Max Verstappen returned to the title fight, taking a convincing victory in Qatar and cutting the gap to Lando Norris to twelve points. We saw a tense weekend in which tyre strategy played a key role.

      Despite clear superiority in qualifying, in the sprint and in race pace, the McLaren team missed an important result for themselves because of a mistake at the moment the safety car was deployed. This mistake was particularly obvious against the backdrop of Verstappen and Red Bull's confident and flawless performance.

      In a championship where hundredths of a second decide everything, every mistake can significantly affect the outcome. McLaren, buoyed by their early clinch of the Constructors' Championship, strives to give its drivers maximum freedom in the fight for the title. This laudable sporting philosophy could cost them dearly. Norris will arrive in Abu Dhabi with a big advantage, but there is a sense that the cool-headedness and clarity of thought demonstrated by the team under Laurent Mekies' leadership do not guarantee him a peaceful night's sleep.

      Kimi Antonelli also deserves mention. The young driver from Bologna lost a position during the first wave of pit stops, when almost everyone except the McLaren drivers and Ocon changed tyres, which forced him to let several cars past, including Sainz, who ultimately finished third. However, Antonelli managed to recover, although he ultimately ceded fourth place to Norris because of a small mistake.

      The weekend in Qatar mathematically confirmed Ferrari's fourth place in the Constructors' Championship, which accurately reflects the car's results over the whole season.

      Now all eyes turn to Abu Dhabi, where in a week's time the crowning of the new world champion will take place."