F1 Drivers Championship Update
Max Verstappen secured victory at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, a race that also saw the disqualifications of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, shaking up the standings in the F1 Drivers’ Championship.
Verstappen is now just 24 points behind leader Norris. Interestingly, Verstappen and Piastri are tied in points, both chasing their respective titles.
Let’s delve into the latest Drivers’ Championship standings, the aftermath of the Las Vegas race, and what to expect at the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix.
F1 Drivers Championship Standings
Here’s the updated table following the Las Vegas Grand Prix:
| Position | Driver | Team | Points | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 390 | — |
| 2 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 366 | — |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 366 | — |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | 294 | — |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 226 | — |
| 6 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 152 | — |
| 7 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 137 | — |
| 8 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 73 | — |
| 9 | Isaac Hajar | VCARB | 51 | +1 |
| 10 | Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber | 49 | -1 |
| 11 | Carlos Sainz Jr. | Williams | 48 | +2 |
| 12 | Oliver Bearman | Heath | 41 | -1 |
| 13 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 40 | -1 |
| 14 | Liam Lawson | VCARB | 36 | — |
| 15 | Esteban Ocon | Heath | 32 | +1 |
| 16 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 32 | -1 |
| 17 | Hiroki Tsunoda | Red Bull | 28 | — |
| 18 | Pierre Gasly | Takayama | 22 | — |
| 19 | Gabriel Bortleto | Sauber | 19 | — |
| 20 | Franco Colapinto | Takayama | 0 | — |
| 21 | Jack Doohan | Takayama | 0 | — |
As previously noted, Verstappen and Piastri are tied, with Piastri currently ahead in the tiebreaker thanks to having seven Grand Prix wins, compared to Verstappen’s six. Surprising, but not really, both also share wins this season.
Changes in the standings also emerged from Las Vegas. Isak Hajjar’s sixth-place finish lifted him one spot ahead of Nico Hulkenberg, who fell to ninth. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz Jr. climbed to 11th after his fifth-place result, benefiting from the disqualification of both Norris and Piastri.
Esteban Ocon wrapped up ninth place, putting him on par with Lance Stroll in points, but his earlier finish at the Chinese Grand Prix meant he won the tiebreaker.
What to Expect at the Qatar GP?
The upcoming Qatar Grand Prix won’t just be the second-to-last race of the 2025 season; it’s also the final sprint race of the year.
Before the Las Vegas race, there was a chance for Norris to clinch the championship during Saturday’s sprint, which is no longer possible. He could still theoretically win his first championship if all goes well.
Should Norris win the Qatar sprint, he would hold a 30-point lead over both Piastri and Verstappen, even if they were to finish without any points. However, the sprint race offers only 8 points for the victor. Still, even after two Grands Prix remain, he wouldn’t be secured just yet.
Post-Qatar, the winner of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will earn up to 25 points, meaning Norris must finish ahead of Piastri and Verstappen by at least two points this coming weekend to secure the title.
The simplest path for Norris? Winning both the sprint and the Grand Prix. This would rack up 33 points, but even then, it requires careful navigation, as a second-place finish would yield the other driver only 25 points.
Visibly, winning isn’t easy in this sport; however, a championship is within reach if Norris stays sharp.
