McLaren's Lando Norris stands on the precipice of securing his first Formula 1 world championship, with the title battle reaching a thrilling climax in the final two rounds of the 2025 season.
The Championship Standings After Las Vegas Disqualification
Norris's path to the title was dealt a significant blow following the Las Vegas Grand Prix. After initially finishing second on The Strip behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen, both he and teammate Oscar Piastri were disqualified due to an FIA investigation into the skid blocks on their cars. This dramatic decision wiped their points from the event, slashing Norris's championship lead.
His advantage was cut from 30 points down to just 24 points, with both Piastri and Verstappen now hot on his heels. The updated standings heading into the final two rounds are as follows:
- Lando Norris (McLaren): 396 points
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren): 374 points
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull): 371 points
With only 58 points left to fight for, the margin for error is incredibly slim for the 26-year-old British driver.
How Norris Can Win the Title in Qatar
The championship battle now moves to the Losail International Circuit for the Qatar Grand Prix, the penultimate round of the season. The weekend features a sprint race followed by the main Grand Prix, offering a final chance for Norris to seal the deal before the Abu Dhabi finale.
Following the Qatar sprint race, won by Piastri, the gaps narrowed further. Piastri now sits just 22 points behind Norris, with Verstappen 25 points adrift. This sets the stage for a dramatic Sunday showdown.
The earliest Norris can be crowned champion is at the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday, 30 November. To achieve this, he must ensure his rivals cannot mathematically catch him in Abu Dhabi. The specific scenarios for a title victory in Qatar are:
- Norris will be crowned champion if he outscores Piastri by four points and finishes ahead of Verstappen in any position during the Grand Prix.
- If he finishes the Qatar weekend with a lead of more than 25 points over both Piastri and Verstappen, he wins the title.
- Put simply: If Norris outscores both Piastri and Verstappen by two or more points across the Sprint and Grand Prix, he becomes world champion.
- He can also win it by outscoring them by a single point, provided he wins Sunday's Grand Prix.
The Stakes for the Challengers
For Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen, the mission is clear: they must leave Qatar within 25 points of Norris to keep their own championship hopes alive. If the gap to Norris is 26 points or more after the chequered flag falls, the title race is over. All the pressure is on Norris's rivals to prevent him from securing the crown with a round to spare, ensuring the battle continues to a final, winner-takes-all showdown in Abu Dhabi.
