Max Verstappen’s stunning win at the Qatar Grand Prix has set up a mouthwatering three-way battle for the F1 championship in the final race of the season next weekend in Abu Dhabi.
Verstappen was adrift for large parts of the 2025 season but the four-time champion found his form when it mattered and has capitalised on slip-ups from Mercedes pair Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
The Red Bull driver claimed his seventh victory of the season at the Lusail International Circuit after an early overtake on Norris, taking 25 points.
Norris ended up in fourth position, behind Carlos Sainz Jr and his teammate Piastri, who took second.
Controversially, the Mercedes duo did not opt for a seventh lap pitstop like the rest of the grid. Because of safety concerns, drivers were limited to 25 laps per set of tyres and there were two mandatory stops.
When the safety car was deployed following Nico Hulkenberg crashing out of the race following a collision with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, it appeared to be the perfect opportunity – with only Norris and Piastri not pitting in a move which proved costly.
Verstappen’s win moved him 12 points behind Norris and well in contention of claiming a fifth consecutive title in a row. Norris is still in the driving seat and Piastri is also still in with a shout going into a huge grand finale at Yas Marina.
How can Norris win the F1 title?
Despite making it a lot harder than ought to have been, Norris will still be crowned F1 champion if he secures a podium finish in Abu Dhabi – with Verstappen and Norris’ positions irrelevant.
He can still win if he finishes fourth of fifth as long as Verstappen finishes in second or lower.
Verstappen claimed his seventh race win of the season. Image: Getty
Remarkably, he could still technically win if he was down in P11 as long as Verstappen is P4 or lower and Piastri is P3 or lower. He and Verstappen would be level on points but the result would be decided by the FIA’s countback system.
That same outcome is possible if Verstappen comes second and Norris is seventh.
Whoever has more race wins would be declared the winner but in the event of a tie, which would be the case as both are level on seven – second placed and third placed finishes would prove decisive.
Norris would win as if he comes seventh and Verstappen takes second, he would still be ahead on second-placed finishes – 8-6.
Should he be hit with a DNF and Verstappen finish fourth to collect 12 points, the pair would be level on points but Norris would still win having accrued more second place finishes.
How can Verstappen win the F1 title?
If Verstappen takes pole position next week, and Norris is P4 or lower, he will make it five in a row in F1. Should he come second, then Norris coming sixth or lower coupled with Piastri finishing P3 or lower would see him emerge victorious.
The Dutchman taking the final spot on the podium and finishing third could bring a win but only in the event that Norris finishes ninth with two points and Piastri comes second or lower.
If Norris was to DNF, finishing third and getting 15 points would also bag the title for Verstappen.
How can Piastri win the title?
Piastri’s possibilities are a little less than the others. To win, he requires a pole position combined with Norris coming sixth or lower in the last race.
Should he only finish second, he would need Norris to end up in P9 and Verstappen in fourth or lower.
Piastri is still in with a shout of winning the F1 title. Image: Getty
It is very much all to play for next weekend and fans can look forward to what could be the most dramatic ending to a season in F1 history.
