Lando Norris was hoping to become the 11th British driver in history to be crowned Formula One world champion at Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix.
Norris led McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri and reigning champion Max Verstappen by 24 points heading into the penultimate race of the 2025 season.
If Norris outscored both Piastri and Verstappen by two points, he would have sealed glory ahead of the finale in Abu Dhabi next weekend.
However, his title rivals had other ideas.
F1 Qatar Grand Prix results
Max Verstappen stormed to victory at the Qatar Grand Prix for the third consecutive season, confirming he will not give up the F1 title he first won in 2021 without a fight.
Verstappen started third behind the two McLarens and passed championship leader, Lando Norris, into turn one after making a blistering start.
McLaren’s decision not to pit during a lap seven safety car ultimately proved their undoing, with Verstappen able to take his seventh win of the season ahead of Oscar Piastri.
Norris, Piastri and Verstappen have all won seven apiece and all head to next weekend’s finale in Abu Dhabi with a chance of lifting the title.
Williams’ Carlos Sainz completed the podium, while Norris limited the damage by passing Kimi Antonelli on the penultimate lap to claim fourth.
It means Norris has a 12-point lead over Verstappen heading into the decider, with Piastri four points further back.
In simple terms, if Verstappen wins at the Yas Marina circuit on December 7, Norris must come second to be crowned champion.
F1 Qatar Grand Prix starting grid
Piastri qualified on pole ahead of his team-mate Norris. Verstappen starts in P3 to set up what could be a straight shootout between the three title contenders.
| Position | Driver |
| 1 | Oscar Piastri |
| 2 | Lando Norris |
| 3 | Max Verstappen |
| 4 | George Russell |
| 5 | Kimi Antonelli |
| 6 | Isack Hadjar |
| 7 | Carlos Sainz |
| 8 | Fernando Alono |
| 9 | Pierre Gasly |
| 10 | Charles Leclerc |
| 11 | Nico Hulkenberg |
| 12 | Liam Lawson |
| 13 | Oliver Bearman |
| 14 | Alex Albon |
| 15 | Yuki Tsunoda |
| 16 | Esteban Ocon |
| 17 | Lewis Hamilton |
| 18 | Lance Stroll |
| 19 | Gabriel Bortoleto* |
| Pit | Franco Colapinto |
*Bortoleto serving a five-place grid penalty for causing a collision at the Las Vegas Grand Prix** Colapinto required to start from the pit lane after several changes were made to his Alpine under parc ferme
F1 points standings 2025
Here is a look at the F1 standings prior to Sunday’s race.
F1 Drivers’ World Championship 2025
| Position | Driver | Team | Points |
| 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. | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | 51 |
| 10. | Nico Hulkenberg | Williams | 49 |
| 11. | Carlos Sainz | Racing Bulls | 48 |
| 12. | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 41 |
| 13. | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 40 |
| 14. | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 36 |
| 15. | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 32 |
| 16. | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 32 |
| 17. | Yuku Tsunoda | Red Bull | 28 |
| 18. | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 22 |
| 19. | Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber | 19 |
| 20. | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 0 |
| 21 | Jack Doohan | Alpine | 0 |
F1 Constructors’ Championship 2025
| Position | Team | Points |
| 1. | McLaren | 786 |
| 2. | Mercedes | 423 |
| 3. | Red Bull | 391 |
| 4. | Ferrari | 371 |
| 5. | Williams | 117 |
| 6. | Racing Bulls | 86 |
| 7. | Aston Martin | 72 |
| 8. | Haas | 70 |
| 9. | Kick Sauber | 64 |
| 10. | Alpine | 22 |
When can Lando Norris win the F1 driver’s championship?
Norris needs to enter the final grand prix of the season in Abu Dhabi with a lead of 25 points in order to be confirmed as world champion before that last race.
In other words, if Norris out-scores Piastri and Verstappen in Qatar by two points, he will win the championship.
Qatar is a Sprint weekend, which means a possible 33 points are available.
Remaining races on 2025 F1 schedule
There are only two grands prix left in the 2025 season.
- Sunday, November 30: Qatar Grand Prix
- Sunday, December 7: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
