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After a decisive victory at the Lusail Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver has dramatically reduced the margin in the championship standings. Now sitting just 12 points behind leader the British driver and in front of teammate Oscar Piastri, the scene is set for a nail-biting three-way championship battle at the iconic Yas Marina Circuit.

A Triumph Forged by Opportunism and Precision.

The Dutchman's latest win was anything but conventional. While he delivered a superb drive for his team, the victory was largely determined by a controversial strategic call from the Woking-based team. Opting to stay on track during an initial safety car period, McLaren presented the initiative to their rival, who capitalized perfectly.

"I'm excited, I'm eager to go there and have a go at it," Verstappen commented. "I go in there with just good vibes. I will give everything I can but at the same time, if I don't win it, I still know that I had an amazing season."

This philosophy he claims takes a lot of the weight of expectation. The aim for the final round is simple: to get the most from each opportunity from himself and the machine.

A Remarkable Turnaround Driven by Upgrades and Teamwork.

The incredible part of this championship charge truly astonishing is how far he has recovered. After the Zandvoort round in August, he was a massive 104 points behind the championship leader his rival and had openly dismissed his championship hopes.

The shift began with significant performance updates introduced by Red Bull at the Monza. Changes to the car's floor and front wing rectified ongoing balance issues, allowing the driver to regain confidence with the chassis once more.

Following those upgrades, his performance has been completely spectacular, securing five wins and several top-three finishes. He was eager to praise the teamwork behind this comeback.

"We have achieved victories where maybe we shouldn't have, by making the correct decision as a unit," he noted. "The partnership with my race engineer and the whole team... we are deeply connected."

The Scenario for a Historic Showdown.

Ahead of the travel to Abu Dhabi, the mathematics is crystal clear.

• The championship leader can secure his debut world title if he outpaces both his two rivals or takes a podium finish.
• The challenger must win and needs that his rival places fourth or lower.
• Oscar Piastri, trailing by 16 points, must also win and have Norris finish sixth or worse.

The spotlight rests heavily on McLaren, who have let a big points cushion evaporate due to costly errors, including a twin DSQ in Las Vegas. From his perspective, being the hunter allows for liberation, transforming the last event into a pure chance to go for glory with nothing to lose.