Title Fight Reignited as F1 Arrives in Qatar
The 2025 Formula 1 World Championship has been thrown wide open as the paddock arrives at the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar for the penultimate round. What seemed like a comfortable lead for Lando Norris has evaporated following a dramatic post-race development at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The McLaren driver, who initially finished second, saw his result – and that of teammate Oscar Piastri – scrubbed from the records due to a technical infringement.
This shock double disqualification for excessive skid plank wear has fundamentally altered the title picture. Max Verstappen, who won in Vegas, now sits just 24 points behind Norris, with Piastri level on points with the Red Bull driver. With this weekend featuring the final sprint format of the season, a potential 33 points are available in Qatar alone, setting the stage for a tense and unpredictable climax to the year.
The Las Vegas Disqualification That Changed Everything
The controversy stemmed from a post-race inspection of the McLaren cars. The FIA stewards found that the thickness of the skid plank on both Norris's and Piastri's cars was below the permitted 9mm threshold. Norris's car was 0.12mm over the limit, while Piastri's exceeded it by 0.26mm.
McLaren put forward a defence citing mitigating circumstances, including unexpected porpoising and limited practice running due to rain. However, the governing body upheld the strict regulations, leaving the Woking-based team with no points from a race where they had looked set to significantly extend their championship advantage. This decision has catapulted Verstappen right back into contention for a fifth consecutive world title.
Team Dynamics and Rival Claims
As the pressure mounts, team politics have come to the fore. Oscar Piastri was quick to address speculation about team orders at McLaren, revealing that the team had a “very brief discussion” about favouring Norris but concluded “the answer is no.” Piastri, level on points with Verstappen, rightly stated he still has a “decent shot” at the title himself.
Meanwhile, Verstappen didn't hold back in his assessment of the championship battle. When asked what would have happened if he were driving Norris's McLaren this season, the Red Bull star replied with a smile, “We wouldn’t be talking about a championship. It would already have been won, easily.” His confidence is palpable as he senses an opportunity to snatch the crown.
What Needs to Happen for the Title to be Decided
Norris remains the favourite, but his path to the title has become considerably more complicated. The British driver could still seal the championship this Sunday in Qatar, but it is dependent on the result of Saturday's sprint race. A victory in the Grand Prix itself might be enough.
If Norris cannot secure the win, his fallback is to finish second in both Qatar and the final round in Abu Dhabi. Any result lower than that would open the door for Verstappen or Piastri to capitalise. With eight points available for the sprint race winner, every session this weekend carries immense weight.
Weekend Schedule (All times GMT)
Friday 28 November: Sprint Qualifying - 5:30pm
Saturday 29 November: Sprint Race - 2:00pm, Grand Prix Qualifying - 6:00pm
Sunday 30 November: Race - 4:00pm
The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 season, with the destiny of the world championship hanging in the balance under the Qatari desert lights.
