The battle for the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship has been thrown wide open after a dramatic turn of events in Las Vegas, setting up a nail-biting finale as the circus moves to Qatar for the penultimate round.
McLaren's Vegas Disaster Shakes Up Title Race
What appeared to be a strong weekend for McLaren in Las Vegas turned into a nightmare when both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified from the race results. The British team's cars failed post-race scrutineering when officials discovered excessive wear on the skid plank beneath both vehicles.
The technical infringement saw the minimum thickness of the plank fall below the permitted 9mm threshold, forcing race stewards to exclude both drivers from the classification. Norris had originally finished second in the race, which would have extended his championship lead, while Piastri had also scored valuable points.
Verstappen Capitalises on McLaren Misfortune
Red Bull's Max Verstappen emerged as the biggest beneficiary from McLaren's disqualification drama. The Dutch driver, who won the Las Vegas Grand Prix outright, now finds himself just 24 points behind championship leader Norris with only two races remaining.
Even more remarkably, Verstappen and Piastri are now level on points in the standings, creating a three-way fight for the title as the season reaches its climax. The development completely changes the complexion of the championship battle that many had thought was swinging decisively in Norris's favour.
Qatar Grand Prix: The Title Decider?
This weekend's Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit represents the final sprint weekend of the 2025 season and could prove decisive in determining this year's world champion. With 33 points available across the sprint race and main grand prix, the mathematics remain finely balanced.
Norris remains in the box seat to claim his first world championship, but his path to glory has become considerably more complicated. The British driver could still secure the title in Qatar if he wins Sunday's grand prix, though the outcome also depends on results in the sprint race.
Alternatively, two second-place finishes in both Qatar and the season finale in Abu Dhabi would guarantee Norris the championship regardless of his rivals' performances. However, any result below this standard opens the door for both Verstappen and Piastri to snatch the title away in what promises to be a dramatic conclusion to the season.
Qatar Grand Prix Schedule (All Times GMT)
Friday 28 November
Free Practice 1: 1:30pm
Sprint Qualifying: 5:30pm
Saturday 29 November
Sprint Race: 2:00pm
Qualifying: 6:00pm
Sunday 30 November
Race: 4:00pm
The stage is set for an unforgettable weekend of Formula 1 action in the Middle East, with three drivers separated by mere points and everything to play for in the desert heat.
