This weekend, all eyes turned to Aston Martin, with Adrian Newey unexpectedly named as the new team principal for 2026, replacing Andy Cowell, who will remain with the team in a different role.

Adding to the intrigue is the situation with Christian Horner, who can only return from his gardening leave in April next season and has also been linked to the British outfit.

Another hot topic in Qatar is, of course, the title fight, with Lando Norris leading the standings by just 24 points over Max Verstappen and his teammate, following McLaren’s double disqualification in Las Vegas that has reopened the championship battle.

The Dutchman is ready to seize any opportunity that comes his way, fully aware that the title is still firmly in Norris’s hands with so few races remaining.

An interesting debate is also emerging around McLaren’s internal hierarchy, now that Verstappen is more of a threat than ever and Oscar Piastri appears increasingly out of the title fight.

Finally, in Qatar, the racing guidelines have also come under the spotlight, with drivers voicing criticism of the stewards and how certain penalties have been handled in recent races.