As the race draws to a close, how can Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen win the F1 2025 championship?

Max Verstappen's victory at the penultimate race of the season, the Qatar Grand Prix, sent the race for the Formula 1 2025 championship to the final race. The two McLarens, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, were outwitted early in the race by the four-time defending champion Verstappen and his Red Bull team, and the Dutchman won the Losail Circuit for the third time in a row.

Verstappen began the race third, behind Norris and pole sitter Piastri, but he overtook the British driver on the first turn. However, following Nico Hulkenberg's crash on lap 7, the Dutchman emerged as a serious contender for victory thanks to an early tire change strategy. In the end, Verstappen defeated Piastri by 7.995 seconds, with Carlos Sainz of Williams coming in third and Norris in fourth.

For the first time since 2010, the F1 title race will proceed to the final race with more than two drivers still in the running. With Norris in his sights, Verstappen is still competing in the Formula One championship. The Dutchman's gap with title leader Norris has shrunk from 25 to 12 points following his victory in Qatar. Even though he was behind Piastri by three points at the end of the Qatar Sprint, Verstappen overtook him in the championship standings and now leads him by four points.

1. Lando Norris: 7 victories and 408 points

2. Max Verstappen: 7 victories and 396 points

3. Oscar Piastri: 7 victories and 392 points

Verstappen is still reliant on another outcome, but he is now very much alive in the race for his fifth Formula One championship. As the Championship moves to Abu Dhabi, drivers can now earn up to 25 points. If Verstappen wins the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Norris finishes fourth or lower, he has the best chance of winning the Formula One championship.

Verstappen will score 25 points and Norris will score 12 as a result. There is currently a gap of 12. Verstappen will win the Championship by one point as a result.

Norris of McLaren is still the favorite to win his first Formula One title, despite Verstappen's triumph in Qatar and his incredible late charge to the championship. He leads his teammate Piastri by 16 points and Verstappen by 12.

No brainer: a victory will propel him to the championship, and everyone else will try their hardest. However, even if Verstappen or Piastri win in Abu Dhabi, Norris will win his first Formula One championship next Sunday if he finishes second or even third.

Piastri, another young man, is vying for his first Formula One championship. He was at the top of the championship standings a few races ago, but now he is in third place, and his chances have been severely damaged. Piastri must overcome the four-point deficit against Verstappen and the sixteen-point deficit against Norris in order to win the Formula One championship.

The ideal scenario for this to occur would be for Norris to finish sixth or lower and Piastri to win in Abu Dhabi. Verstappen would be eliminated automatically if he prevailed.