It’s crunch time in Abu Dhabi, with a three-way fight for the F1 World Drivers Championship.

From McLaren’s point of view it didn’t have to be this way. If they had avoided the disqualifications in Vegas, or made a better strategy call in Qatar, they would now be guaranteed their first World Champion since Lewis Hamilton in 2008.

As it is Lando Norris will be champion if he finishes third or higher, while Max Verstappen is only 12 points behind him and has chances. Oscar Piastri needs luck to go his way after the crushing disappointment of losing a certain race win in Qatar. 

James Allen explores all of this and what it’s like to be in the middle of a title showdown, with someone who was in the thick of it in 2007, when McLaren lost the championship from a position not unlike today’s - former McLaren mechanic now journalist and broadcaster Marc Priestley.

And our F1 writer with his ear to the ground, Ronald Vording, joins us from Abu Dhabi.

Send your comments or questions to: @jamesallenonf1 on X or [email protected].

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A Motorsport Studios production for Autosport