Formula 1 will head into the season finale with three drivers still within championship contention: Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, but what does each driver need to win the title?

Feature image credit: McLaren Racing

After Red Bull’s Verstappen took an unlikely win at the Qatar Grand Prix, it means the championship fight will enjoy a three-way fight for the driver’s championship title.

Verstappen – after an impressive qualifying session – will start in pole position but the four-time world champion will have Norris alongside him on the front row, who will retain a 12 points buffer to the chasing Red Bull driver. 

Additionally, championship-hopeful Oscar Piastri will start behind both Verstappen and his teammate, holding an outside chance at the title. 

If the race was to finish as it starts, with Verstappen, Norris and Piastri, first second and third, respectively, Norris will win the title. All the #4 McLaren needs is a podium finish to secure the title in Abu Dhabi. 

However, it is not all guaranteed heading into the 58-lap race. Here are the permutations for the championship title:

Embed from Getty Images

How Norris can win:

1st – Verstappen & Piastri lose

2nd – Verstappen & Piastri lose

3rd – Verstappen & Piastri lose

4th – Verstappen 2nd / Piastri loses

5th – Verstappen 2nd / Piastri loses

6th – Verstappen 2nd or less / Piastri 2nd or less

7th – Verstappen 2nd or less / Piastri 2nd or less

8th – Verstappen 3rd or less / Piastri 2nd or less

9th Verstappen 4th or less / Piastri 2n or less

10th – Verstappen 4th or less / Piastri 3rd or less

11th – Verstappen 4th or less / Piastri 3rd or less

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris (McLaren Formula 1 Team, 81, 4) on the Friday at the Abu Dhabi GP 2025 05/12/2025 // Credit: Grégoire Truchet

How Verstappen can claim the title:

1st – Norris 4th or less / Piastri loses

2nd – Norris 8th or less / Piastri 3rd or less

3rd – Norris 9th or less / Piastri 2nd or less

Max Verstappen (Oracle Red Bull Racing, 01) after FP1 on the Friday at the Abu Dhabi GP 2025 05/12/2025 // Credit: Grégoire Truchet

How Piastri can win the title: 

1st – Norris 6th or less / Verstappen loses

2nd – Norris 10th or less / Verstappen 4th or less

Oscar Piastri (McLaren Formula 1 Team, 81) on the Friday at the Abu Dhabi GP 2025 05/12/2025 // Credit: Grégoire Truchet

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Max Verstappen snatches pole for title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
• George Russell takes fastest time in final Abu Dhabi GP practice
• Lando Norris fastest after opening day with quickest FP2 time in Abu Dhabi GP
• F1 drivers slam Kimi Antonelli abuse ahead of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
• Toyota Gazoo Racing to become title sponsor of Haas
• ‘I’m not finished yet’ says Yuki Tsunoda in first post after Red Bull axe

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

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