‘Call Me Chucky’: Max Verstappen Grins After Qatar GP Win Propels Him To 2nd In F1 Title Race

Last Updated:December 01, 2025, 09:44 IST

Max Verstappen seized victory at Qatar Grand Prix after McLaren’s pit strategy faltered, moving to second in the championship, just 12 points behind Lando Norris before Abu Dhabi.

Formula One champion Max Verstappen relished McLaren’s strategic blunder at the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday, as the Red Bull driver secured another victory just days after his team boss likened him to a persistent movie monster.

“He can call me Chucky,” the Dutchman said with a grin after claiming victory under the Lusail floodlights from third place on the grid.

How Max Verstappen Won Qatar Grand Prix?

McLaren, who had both cars disqualified in Las Vegas a week prior while Verstappen triumphed, had dominated the front row with Oscar Piastri on pole and championship leader Lando Norris alongside him, aiming to secure the title.

However, things quickly fell apart for the team.

Verstappen overtook Norris at the start and pitted from second place on lap seven when the safety car was deployed, while the McLarens stayed out and suffered the consequences—Piastri finished second, and Norris came in fourth.

This result propelled Verstappen to second in the championship, 12 points behind Norris with only the Abu Dhabi finale remaining, and four points ahead of Piastri. At the end of August, the Dutch driver was 104 points behind Piastri.

“I didn’t expect to win today, that’s for sure,” Verstappen told Sky Sports television.

“Looking at pure pace, we were not on the same level as McLaren, but we made the right call, as most of the grid did, in boxing under the safety car.

“That almost gives you a free pit stop and that made the race for me.

“For sure, that call at the pit stop made me win the race today.”

Red Bull underscored their strategic success by sending Hannah Schmitz, the team’s principal strategy engineer, up to the podium to share in Verstappen’s celebrations under the floodlights.

Verstappen did not believe McLaren had erred in trying to be fair to both drivers, avoiding disadvantaging either in the title battle by double-stacking them at a pit stop, but rather, they just made the wrong decision.

“It was about missing the whole pit stop opportunity,” he said. “On pure pace they are faster, but as it showed today again anything is possible.”

Earlier in the week, McLaren chief executive Zak Brown had compared Verstappen to “that guy in a horror movie who keeps coming back.”

Las Vegas was a setback, and Sunday was a shock for McLaren, who have already claimed the constructors’ crown for a second consecutive year.

Next weekend could be a true nightmare if Verstappen denies them a title double in the same season for the first time since Mika Hakkinen in 1998.

“I think on pure pace it will be tough but a race like today also shows that it’s not always straightforward, a Grand Prix, and a lot of things can happen,” said Verstappen. “So I’m probably relying a little bit on that.”

(With inputs from Agencies)

Ritayan Basu

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin…Read More

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin… Read More

Read More