Max Verstappen showcased his trademark precision and strategic brilliance to claim victory at Sunday’s thrilling Qatar Grand Prix, keeping the F1 Championship battle alive and setting the stage for a nail-biting finale in Abu Dhabi this coming Sunday. The race had all the drama fans have come to expect from the closing stages of a Title fight, with Hannah Schmitz’s strategy playing a decisive role.
Max had no chance of securing the World Championship in Qatar, but a poor tire strategy call by McLaren opened the door for a shoot out in Abu Dhabi, the last race of the F1 Season.
Norris could have secured the F1 title on Sunday if he had …
- Won the Qatar Grand Prix - that would have given him 25 points, making him uncatchable by both Verstappen and Piastri with just one round left
- Finished second - that could also have been enough, but only if Piastri and Verstappen both finished behind him and Piastri stayed off the podium
- Finished lower than second - with both Piastri and Verstappen scoring very poorly
None of these happened. In the end, Verstappen won the race, Piastri finished 2nd and Norris placed 4th.
Piastri could have been crowned World Champion in Qatar if he had …
- Won the Grand Prix
- Norris had finished extremely low (outside points or very low scoring position)
- Verstappen did not win the race
In short, it required a near-perfect weekend for Piastri … and that didn’t happen.
For much of the weekend, all eyes were on Lando Norris, who had a golden opportunity to secure the Championship in Qatar; however, the race unfolded in manner that ultimately kept Verstappen in the game.
Max had a brilliant start, passing Norris for 2nd place right out of the starting gate. Then a yellow flag situation resulted in a brilliant Red Bull strategy call - Verstappen was brought into the pits for a tire change, while McLaren chose to remain on track and go the full 25 lap distance permitted on soft tires, risking expected degradation in favor of extra speed. This decision ultimately cost Piastri a win, though he managed to hang on to 2nd place with Williams’ Carlos Sainz Jr. smiling from ear to ear after putting his race car on the podium in 3rd place.
Sunday’s race was a stark reminder that in Formula 1, strategy mistakes can be as costly as driver errors.
Now, all eyes turn to Abu Dhabi, where the final race of the Season will determine the 2025 F1 Champion. Verstappen enters the weekend with momentum, but the Championship remains mathematically open for Norris and Piastri, making it anyone’s game. For Verstappen, a strong finish - even outside of 1st place - may be enough to secure the Title, depending on where Norris and Piastri finish. Verstappen has been crowned Champion every year since 2021. Another Championship in 2025 would make him a 5-time Winner; Michael Schumacher is the only other F1 driver to have ever done so (2000-2004).
Here's what fans may expect to see during the final race of the F1 Season.
🏆 Lando Norris: What He Must Do in Abu Dhabi
- Scenario 1: Win the race - he will automatically clinch the Championship regardless of where Verstappen or Piastri finish
- Scenario 2: Finish 2nd or lower - he must outscore Verstappen by enough points to stay ahead
- If Verstappen wins, Norris must finish at least 3rd to maintain a 1-point edge
- Piastri finishing ahead complicates it, but Norris only needs to stay ahead of Verstappen to guarantee the Title
In short: Norris controls his destiny. A strong finish (top 3) and he will be the 2025 F1 Champion.
🏎️ Max Verstappen: What He Must Do at the Yas Marina Circuit
- Scenario 1: Win the race - he must also ensure Norris finishes 4th or lower to overtake him in points
- Scenario 2: Finish 2nd or lower but he can only win if Norris and Piastri finish very low, which is unlikely
In short: Verstappen needs a perfect weekend and a major Norris screw-up.
🌟 Oscar Piastri: What He Must Do at the Twilight GP
- Scenario 1: Win the race - he must hope:
- Norris finishes 5th or lower (so Verstappen doesn’t overtake Norris either)
- Verstappen finishes 3rd or lower, or at least below him, otherwise Verstappen will be Champion
- Scenario 2: Finish 2nd or lower - virtually impossible to win unless both rivals collapse, so Piastri must win to have a shot at the Title
In short: Piastri is the wildcard. He can still take the Title but requires a perfect combination of winning and misfortune for both rivals.
Abu Dhabi promises high stakes, high speed and high drama. Track position, tire strategy, pit crew performance and split-second decision-making will once again be critical. Fans can expect a race where every corner, pit stop and overtaking maneuver could determine the fate of the championship. With three potential champions and a 24-event season-long rivalry coming down to a single weekend, this is what Formula 1 was built for: edge-of-your-seat action, unpredictability and the crowning of a World Champion under the brightest global spotlight.
One thing is certain: the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be remembered not just for the winner, but for the three-way battle we will all eagerly witness.
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