When Formula 1 returned from its summer break, McLaren appeared to have the championship sewn up. A one-two finish at Max Verstappen's home race, the Dutch Grand Prix, put Oscar Piastri 34 points clear of teammate Lando Norris and 104 points ahead of Verstappen. Just seven races and three months later, an extraordinary turnaround has seen Verstappen draw level with Piastri and close to within 24 points of Norris with two rounds remaining.
The comeback began at Monza, where Verstappen dominated from pole while McLaren ordered Piastri to cede second place to Norris after a botched pit stop. Piastri's form then collapsed: a crash in qualifying, a false start, and a first-lap shunt in Baku left him scoreless, while Verstappen won again. In Singapore, Norris overtook Piastri at the start and, despite Piastri's radio protests, the team did not intervene, marking another points swing against the Australian.
Verstappen's maximum-score weekend in Austin was boosted by a McLaren collision in the sprint race that eliminated both cars. Norris recovered to second in the grand prix, while Piastri languished in fifth, his lead over Norris cut to 14 points. In Mexico, Norris took a polished pole and victory, while Piastri started eighth and finished fifth, losing the championship lead to Norris by a single point.
Interlagos proved disastrous for Piastri: a spin in the sprint and a 10-second penalty in the grand prix left him pointless, while Norris extended his lead to 24 points. Verstappen recovered from a pit-lane start to finish ahead of Piastri on the podium. The championship picture was then upended by McLaren's double disqualification after the race, handing Verstappen and Piastri a reprieve.
With two rounds left, Verstappen is level with Piastri on points and 24 behind Norris. The Lusail International Circuit hosts a sprint weekend, offering big points and a final chance for Verstappen and Piastri to close the gap. High-speed corners and high tyre wear will test the contenders as the 2025 season reaches its climax.
