Thanks to Max Verstappen’s unexpected victory at the Qatar GP, Formula 1 promises an exciting confrontation in the last stage in Abu Dhabiwith three drivers still in contention for the 2025 world title: Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri.
The title decision takes place at the Yas Marina circuit, in the United Arab Emirates. With just 25 points left at stake, every position in the final race becomes decisive.
Currently, Norris leads the championship with 408 points, followed by Verstappen, with 396, and Piastri, with 392.
What does Norris need to be champion?
Norris is the one with the most favorable scenario. The Brit guarantees the title directly if he finishes on the podium — any position in the top three makes him champion regardless of the performance of his opponents.
Even finishing fourth or fifth, Norris still takes the , as long as Verstappen doesn’t win in Abu Dhabi. In more extreme situations, such as finishing between sixth and seventh, he would remain champion if neither Verstappen nor Piastri manage to win.
Even bad results — such as completing the race between eighth and tenth, or even not scoring — can still give you the title, if your rivals also perform below expectations.
What does Verstappen need to be champion?
As for Verstappen, the path is more complex. Verstappen would have been eliminated from contention had he not outperformed the McLarens at the weekend, and increased his chances of winning a fifth consecutive world title.
The four-time champion needs, first of all, to win the race. With the victory, any result for Norris outside the podium already puts the Dutchman back at the top of the championship. If he fails to win, there are still possible scenarios with a second place, as long as Norris finishes well behind, from eighth onwards, and Piastri does not win.
If he reaches third place, the Brit would need to be in ninth or any lower position, with Piastri in second place or worse.
If he wins, the Red Bull driver could equal the record of five consecutive drivers’ world titles.
What does Piastri need to be champion?
but still with mathematical chances. To be champion, he needs to win the race and hope that Norris finishes, at most, sixth, while Verstappen cannot win.
There are even more unlikely combinations, such as a second place combined with a tenth place for Norris and a fourth or worse for Verstappen, but these hypotheses require both one and an unlikely scenario involving the two rivals.
In the end, Norris is the one who arrives in Abu Dhabi controlling his own destiny: a simple podium is enough to crown him world champion. Verstappen tries his final trick, betting on victory and someone else’s stumble, while Piastri needs an impeccable Sunday and a rare combination of results.
