Final Showdown for the F1 Championship in Abu Dhabi
The 2025 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship is gearing up for an exciting conclusion at Yas Marina, with Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri all in the running.
Verstappen’s impressive win at the Qatar Grand Prix keeps him in the race for what could be a fifth championship, possibly one of the most remarkable comebacks in the sport’s history. After the Dutch Grand Prix, he found himself third in points, a whopping 104 points behind Piastri, who was leading at that time.
In the latest race, Verstappen clinched victory, finishing ahead of Piastri and Carlos Sainz Jr., while Norris crossed the line in fourth.
With this result, Verstappen now sits in second place, only 12 points shy of Norris and just ahead of Piastri as the season approaches its finale in Abu Dhabi.
The standings following the Qatar Grand Prix are:
- 1. Lando Norris – McLaren – 408 points
- 2. Max Verstappen – Red Bull – 396 points (+1)
- 3. Oscar Piastri – McLaren – 392 points (-1)
- 4. George Russell – Mercedes – 309 points
- 5. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – 230 points
- 6. Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari – 152 points
- 7. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes – 150 points
- 8. Alexander Albon – Williams – 73 points
- 9. Carlos Sainz Jr. – Williams – 64 points (+2)
- 10. Isaac Hajar – VCARB – 51 points (-1)
Abu Dhabi Title Scenarios
Interestingly, even though Lando Norris hasn’t secured his first championship yet, he still has a solid chance at Yas Marina. He carries a 12-point advantage over Verstappen and a 16-point lead over Piastri. If he finishes ahead of both in Abu Dhabi, the title will be his.
Even if Verstappen comes out on top in Abu Dhabi, Norris can still clinch the championship. If Norris manages to podium, he will take home the title, and a second-place finish would grant him a five-point advantage.
Should Verstappen emerge victorious and Norris finish third, Norris will still edge out Verstappen for the championship by a mere two points.
For Verstappen, it’s simple: winning while Norris finishes fourth or lower means he takes the championship. If he ends up second, he would have a six-point lead over Norris, meaning Norris would need to finish sixth or higher to surpass him.
It’s rather intriguing that if Verstappen finishes second and Norris comes in seventh, they’d be back at an equal points level. Verstappen’s recent win ties him with Norris in the Grand Prix victories category.
The next potential tiebreaker? Their respective second-place finishes. Norris, heading into Abu Dhabi, boasts eight second-place finishes compared to Verstappen’s five. So, if they end up tied and Verstappen doesn’t take the Abu Dhabi win, Norris would clinch that tiebreaker.
Piastri, too, has a shot at the title; a victory would catapult him to 417 points, placing him ahead of both Norris and Verstappen. In that scenario, Norris would need to finish sixth or lower, while Verstappen couldn’t place better than second.
