The 2025 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship has reached its most critical juncture. Following a shocking double disqualification at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the title race between Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen has tightened dramatically with only the Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds remaining on the calendar.
McLaren’s technical nightmare in Sin City saw both their cars excluded from the results due to floor plank wear violations, transforming what appeared to be a comfortable Norris advantage into a genuine three-way contest for motorsport’s ultimate prize.
The Current Championship Picture
The standings heading into Qatar tell a compelling story of momentum shifts and missed opportunities:
- Lando Norris: 390 points (seven victories)
- Oscar Piastri: 366 points (seven victories)
- Max Verstappen: 366 points (six victories)
Before the Las Vegas exclusions, Norris had stretched his buffer to 42 points over Verstappen and 30 over his Australian teammate. The disqualification slashed that margin to just 24 points over both rivals, breathing new life into a championship fight that seemed to be slipping away from the chasing pack.
The form guide since the summer break paints an interesting picture. Verstappen has accumulated an impressive 179 points across eight races during this period, substantially outperforming Norris (115 points) and Piastri (82 points) when the pressure has intensified.
Verstappen’s Road to a Historic Fifth Crown
For the Dutchman to extend his championship dynasty to five consecutive titles, he faces a challenging but not impossible equation. Securing maximum points from the remaining 58 available would bring his season total to 424, but that alone wouldn’t guarantee success.
Norris would need to collect 33 points or fewer across the Qatar Sprint, Qatar Grand Prix, and Abu Dhabi finale for Verstappen to overtake him. This could manifest in several ways: runner-up finishes in Qatar’s Sprint and main race followed by sixth place or lower in Abu Dhabi; a Sprint victory plus one race win offset by a retirement or disqualification; or any combination of results keeping him below that crucial 34-point threshold.
Should both drivers finish level on points at season’s end, Verstappen would claim the championship through the countback tiebreaker, having secured more race victories. Any failure by Norris to reach the podium across all three remaining competitive sessions would also hand the title to the Red Bull driver.
The trajectory since mid-season has undeniably favored Verstappen. His resurgence from what looked like an insurmountable deficit demonstrates why dismissing a four-time champion is never wise.
Piastri’s Path to Australian Glory
The Melbourne-born driver finds himself in an intriguing position. Mathematically tied with Verstappen at 366 points, Piastri’s championship pathway mirrors the Dutchman’s scenario precisely in terms of pure numbers.
What separates their situations lies beyond the mathematics. McLaren’s internal dynamics and the implementation of their team orders policy could significantly influence whether Piastri receives the freedom to maximize his own championship aspirations or remains bound by collective team strategy.
A maiden title would make Piastri the first Australian Formula 1 World Champion since Alan Jones captured the crown with Williams back in 1980, ending a 45-year drought for the nation.
Norris and the Weight of Expectation
The British driver’s route to his first championship remains the most straightforward of the three contenders. Outscoring both Piastri and Verstappen by just two points across the Qatar weekend would secure the title before the Abu Dhabi finale even begins.
Victory in Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix would effectively seal the deal, delivering McLaren their first Drivers’ Championship since Lewis Hamilton achieved the feat with the Woking-based team in 2008.
Failure to close out the championship in Qatar would set up a tense season finale at Yas Marina. There, Norris would face a cornered Verstappen fighting with the desperation and brilliance that characterized his controversial 2021 championship triumph over Hamilton.
The permutations become even more complex if Verstappen dominates both remaining races. A points tie would see the title decided by race wins, currently favoring Norris by a single victory but potentially swinging in Verstappen’s direction with strong results in the closing rounds.
The Verdict
Formula 1 has delivered a championship battle worthy of the sport’s rich history. What seemed destined to be Norris’s coronation has transformed into a genuine three-way fight where strategy, reliability, and pure racing talent will determine who lifts the trophy in Abu Dhabi.
The momentum clearly sits with Verstappen, but the mathematics still favor Norris. Piastri, meanwhile, represents the wildcard capable of capitalizing should his rivals stumble. Two races remain to settle what has become one of the most unpredictable championship conclusions in recent memory.
