Abu Dhabi: With the final round of the 2025 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix just days away, the battle for the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship has become one of the tightest in years. Three drivers — Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri — all remain mathematically alive, setting up a dramatic finale at the Yas Marina Circuit this Sunday.
Title permutations — What each contender needs
Lando Norris — Leads the standings with 408 points. A podium finish (top-3) at Yas Marina will seal his first world title, regardless of what happens around him.
Max Verstappen — The four-time champion trails by 12 points (396). To claim a fifth title in a row, he must win the race, and rely on Norris finishing P4 or lower.
Oscar Piastri — Third in the standings with 392 points, 16 behind Norris. His path is the hardest: he must win the race, Norris finish sixth or lower, and hope Verstappen finishes off the top step. It’s unlikely — but mathematically still in play.
All three drivers have registered seven wins each this season — underscoring how evenly matched they are.
What’s changed recently — Reset after Qatar
The competition was set to conclude earlier, but a major twist at the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix kept all doors open. Verstappen clinched victory, while Norris could muster only fourth, shrinking his points advantage to a mere 12 and pushing the title decider to Abu Dhabi.
That result — a combination of a fine drive from Verstappen and a strategic misstep by car owner : McLaren — means history is on the line: the first three-way title fight since 2010.
Practice signals — Momentum with Norris
At the start of the Abu Dhabi weekend, Norris looked calm and focused. In Friday’s second practice session, he topped the time sheets — ahead of Verstappen — sending a clear message that McLaren still have pace where it counts.
Piastri, however, struggled on balance in his return to the car after rookie FP1 duties, leaving questions over whether McLaren can give him and Norris equal machines.
What’s at stake — More than just a trophy
For Norris: A maiden Drivers’ Championship, the first for a British rookie champion since Jenson Button (2009).
For Verstappen: A fifth consecutive world title — tying the record of Michael Schumacher for most back-to-back championships.
For Piastri: An underdog story — first time this season a driver outside Norris/Verstappen has arguable shot in final round. A win would mark Australia’s first F1 Drivers’ champion since Alan Jones (1980).
But beyond individual glory, this finale also marks the end of an era: the 2025 season will be the last using the existing power-unit and aerodynamic regulations before major changes arrive in 2026.
What to watch — Key variables in the finale
Qualifying and start — Grid position may decide everything on a circuit where overtaking is hard.
Race strategy, pit stops, tyres — Under tight margins, a safety car or tyre gamble could swing the title.
Team dynamics at McLaren — Will “papaya rules” (free-for-all) hold, or will team orders come into play if only Norris can win?
Mental pressure — One mistake, one wheel-to-wheel incident could undo months of hard work.
Verdict — Norris slightly favourite — but don’t rule out drama
Given the cars’ pace and practice form, Lando Norris is the favourite — he has the simplest path: podium → champion. But in a three-way finale, a single error or inspired drive (look at Verstappen’s comeback in Qatar) can flip everything.
If tension, human error, and high stakes have taught F1 anything, it’s that title deciders rarely go merely to math — this is set up to be a classic.
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