Lando Norris stands on the brink of becoming a Formula 1 World Champion for the first time, with the title battle reaching its climax at the Qatar Grand Prix this weekend.
The Championship Picture Tightens
The McLaren driver's path to glory hit a significant bump in Las Vegas, where a controversial disqualification for both Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri saw them stripped of their points. This penalty slashed Norris's lead in the standings from a comfortable 30 points down to just 24, dramatically intensifying the fight for the crown.
With only the Qatar Grand Prix and the final round in Abu Dhabi remaining, a maximum of 58 points are still available. The championship is now a fierce three-way contest between Norris, his McLaren colleague Oscar Piastri, and Red Bull's reigning champion, Max Verstappen.
How Norris Can Win It in Qatar
The sprint race in Qatar confirmed that Norris could not mathematically secure the title on Saturday. Piastri's sprint victory narrowed the gap further, leaving Norris 22 points clear of his teammate and 25 points ahead of Verstappen.
This sets the stage for a dramatic Sunday. The earliest Norris can now claim the championship is during the main Grand Prix event. To do so, he must outscore Piastri by four points and also finish the weekend ahead of Verstappen in the combined points tally.
A simpler way to view it is this: if Norris can extend his lead over both rivals by two or more points across the sprint and main race, the title is his. Even if he only increases his lead by a single point, victory in the Grand Prix itself would be enough to seal the deal and spark the celebrations.
What It Takes to Keep the Fight Alive
For Piastri and Verstappen, the mission is clear: delay Norris's coronation. To take the championship fight down to the wire in Abu Dhabi, they must ensure that the points deficit to Norris remains at 25 points or less when the chequered flag falls in Qatar. Failure to do so will see Lando Norris crowned the 2025 Formula 1 World Champion.
