The 2025 Formula 1 world championship will be decided this afternoon in a dramatic three-way showdown under the lights of the Yas Marina Circuit. After a mammoth season spanning 24 Grands Prix and six Sprint races across the globe, either Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, or Oscar Piastri will be crowned champion.
The Stakes Could Not Be Higher
McLaren's Lando Norris enters the finale as the standings leader, holding a 12-point advantage over Red Bull's Max Verstappen and a 16-point buffer over his own teammate, Oscar Piastri. For the British driver, a maiden title is within touching distance. The equation is simple for Norris: a podium finish will secure the championship no matter where his rivals place.
However, the momentum from qualifying belongs to the reigning champion. Max Verstappen claimed a dominant pole position on Saturday, lapping two-tenths of a second faster than Norris in second, with Piastri a close third. Verstappen is chasing a piece of history, aiming to equal Michael Schumacher's record of five consecutive drivers' titles.
A Tense History of Final-Day Deciders
This is familiar territory for Verstappen, who was at the centre of F1's last final-race title decider in 2021. On that occasion, he controversially denied Lewis Hamilton an eighth crown. He has been champion every year since, but arrives at this climax in an unusual position: as the hunter, not the hunted.
This marks the first time in 15 years that three drivers have remained in mathematical contention for the title at the final race. The grid could not be more perfectly set, with the trio occupying the top three starting spots, guaranteeing a fierce battle from the very first corner.
What Needs to Happen for Each Contender?
The destiny of the championship now rests on a complex web of possibilities. Verstappen, despite starting from the front, knows that victory alone is insufficient. His hopes of a fifth straight crown rely on Norris finishing fourth or lower.
For Oscar Piastri, the task is even more monumental. The Australian must overcome his significant points deficit, requiring a near-perfect result and misfortune for both his rivals to have any chance of a sensational debut title.
All eyes will be on the desert as the lights go out for one last time in 2025. Can Lando Norris manage the race and clinch his first world championship? Will Max Verstappen complete a stunning late-season comeback to match Schumacher's record? Or could Oscar Piastri produce the shock of the season? The answers will be revealed over 58 laps of high-pressure racing.
