The 2025 Formula 1 world championship will be decided in a thrilling three-way showdown at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this Sunday. McLaren's Oscar Piastri, who led the standings for much of the campaign, now faces a monumental task to claim his maiden title.
The Championship Standings: A Tight Three-Way Battle
Heading into the finale at the Yas Marina Circuit, the title race could not be closer. Lando Norris leads the championship with 408 points, but his McLaren teammate and Red Bull's Max Verstappen are hot on his heels. Verstappen sits second on 396 points, with Piastri just four points further back in third place on 392. This means Piastri trails Norris by 16 points.
The Australian's deficit grew after a dramatic and costly race in Qatar last week. Piastri looked comfortable in the lead until an early crash triggered a Safety Car. In a surprising strategic move, McLaren opted not to pit either Piastri or the second-placed Norris, losing a 'free' pit-stop opportunity. Forced to play catch-up, Piastri closed in on eventual winner Verstappen but had to settle for second, leaving him, in his own words on team radio, "speechless".
What Piastri Must Do To Become Champion
With a normal points-scoring race in Abu Dhabi, the equation for Piastri is clear but challenging. He must score 17 more points than Norris and five more than Verstappen to guarantee the title. At an absolute minimum, he must finish on the podium to have any mathematical chance.
The specific scenarios reveal the scale of his challenge:
- If Piastri wins the race, Norris must finish sixth or lower and Verstappen must be second or lower.
- If Piastri finishes second, he needs Norris to finish ninth or lower and Verstappen fourth or lower.
- If Piastri finishes third or lower, he cannot win the championship.
For Norris, the task is simpler: a podium finish (third place or higher) secures his first world title, giving him an unassailable lead.
Verstappen's Chance and The Countback Rule
Max Verstappen, now second in the standings, is also firmly in contention. He needs to score 13 more points than Norris to take his fourth title. If he scores exactly 12 more points than the Briton, they would be level on points. With both drivers currently on seven race wins this season, the tie-break would go to second-place finishes, where Norris holds a significant advantage with eight compared to Verstappen's five.
This countback rule also applies to Piastri, who has only four second-place finishes. Should an extraordinary set of results leave all three drivers level on points, Norris's superior record of podium finishes would see him crowned champion.
The stage is set for a sensational climax to the F1 season. All eyes will be on the Yas Marina Circuit this Sunday to see if Oscar Piastri can pull off a remarkable comeback, if Lando Norris can seal the deal, or if Max Verstappen can snatch glory from the McLaren duo.
