McLaren's Lando Norris will head to the season finale in Abu Dhabi with his destiny in his own hands, despite a challenging Qatar Grand Prix that saw his championship lead shrink. The British driver maintains a 12-point advantage over Red Bull's Max Verstappen after finishing fourth in a dramatic race at the Losail International Circuit.
Qatar GP Drama Tightens Title Battle
The 26-year-old Englishman saw his grip on the 2025 Formula 1 world championship weaken during a dramatic Sunday night in Qatar. Norris lost second place to his title rival Max Verstappen at the start and was later hampered by an incorrect strategy call from his McLaren team, which also affected teammate Oscar Piastri.
Verstappen capitalised on McLaren's misfortune to take victory, while Norris could only manage fourth position despite making a crucial late overtake on Kimi Antonelli. Piastri secured second place, keeping his own slim title hopes alive. The result sets up a thrilling championship decider at the Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday 7 December 2025.
The Championship Standings Heading to Abu Dhabi
The battle for the 2025 crown couldn't be tighter with just one race remaining. The current standings show:
- Lando Norris (McLaren): 408 points
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull): 396 points
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren): 392 points
Norris leads Verstappen by 12 points, with Piastri a further four points behind in third, creating a 16-point deficit to his teammate.
How Norris Can Clinch the Title in Abu Dhabi
The equation for Norris to secure his maiden world championship is straightforward. With a normal race weekend format in Abu Dhabi, the McLaren driver will become world champion if he finishes on the podium at the Yas Marina Circuit.
A third-place finish, worth 15 points, would give Norris an unassailable 27-point lead in the championship. However, if he finishes fourth (12 points), the situation becomes more complicated. This would give him a 24-point lead, meaning if Verstappen won the race, the Dutchman would take the title by a single point.
For Verstappen to claim the championship, he needs to score 13 more points than Norris in Abu Dhabi. If he scores exactly 12 more points, they would be tied on points and wins, but Norris holds the advantage on countback with eight second-place finishes compared to Verstappen's five.
Piastri faces an even steeper challenge, requiring 16 more points than Norris and four more than Verstappen to have any chance of claiming the title in what promises to be a dramatic season conclusion.
