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After a pivotal victory at the Qatar Grand Prix, the reigning world champion has dramatically closed the gap in the title race. He now finds himself just twelve points behind leader McLaren's Lando Norris and leading teammate his McLaren rival, everything is in place for a thrilling three-way championship battle at the iconic Yas Marina Circuit.

A Victory Shaped by Strategy and Seizing Opportunity.

His latest win was anything but conventional. Although he delivered a flawless drive for his team, the result was heavily influenced by a questionable strategic decision from the McLaren team. Deciding to stay on track during an initial safety car period, McLaren effectively gifted the advantage to Verstappen, who pounced impeccably.

"I'm looking forward to it, I'm eager to go there and give it my best shot," the driver said. "I approach it with just optimism. I try everything I can but equally, even without the title, I still know that I had a fantastic season."

This philosophy according to him takes a lot of the pressure. The goal for the last race is simple: to get the most from every single element from himself and the machine.

An Improbable Turnaround Driven by Development and Cohesion.

The remarkable aspect of this championship charge particularly notable is the distance he has come back. Following the Dutch Grand Prix in August, he was a massive over a century of points behind the then-leader his rival and had publicly written off his title chances.

The reversal began with major technical upgrades introduced by Red Bull at the Italian Grand Prix. Modifications to the vehicle's underbody and front wing finally addressed ongoing performance deficits, allowing the driver to regain confidence with the car once more.

From then on, his form has been completely dominant, achieving five victories and several top-three finishes. He was quick to highlight the teamwork behind this success.

"We have achieved victories where maybe the odds were against us, by executing the right call as a group," he explained. "The way I work with my race engineer and the whole team... we are perfectly synchronized."

The Scenario for a Unforgettable Decider.

With the paddock arrive in Abu Dhabi, the mathematics is crystal clear.

• Lando Norris is in position to win his first-ever world title if he beats both his two rivals or takes a place on the rostrum.
• Max Verstappen must win and hope that Norris is not in the top three.
• Oscar Piastri, trailing by 16 points, has to win the race and witness his teammate end up no higher than sixth.

The pressure rests heavily on the papaya-colored cars, who have let a big points cushion evaporate due to costly errors, including a exclusion for both cars in Las Vegas. In his view, the situation brings a sense of fearlessness, turning the last event into a straight opportunity to attack with everything to gain.