2025 is going down to the wire. For the first time since 2010, three drivers will head to the final round with a shot at the world championship.
Max Verstappen has taken victory in Qatar to close the gap to just 12 points. Starting third, the reigning world champion passed Lando Norris for second at turn one and held position for the opening exchanges.
With the FIA having mandated a maximum of 25 laps per set of tyres, this race revolved around strategy. Pierre Gasly and Nico Hulkenberg collided on lap seven, which brought out the safety car. Verstappen dove into the pits for a fresh set of medium tyres, while the two McLarens stayed out. Verstappen pitted for a second time on lap 32 and successfully undercut his title rivals. The reigning world champion managed his final set of hards to perfection to take his seventh victory of the season, putting him within 12 points of the championship lead. With just one race left, Verstappen has to win in Abu Dhabi with Norris fourth or lower in order to take a very unlikely title.
Behind him, Oscar Piastri’s resurgent run was halted. After staying out during the first safety car period, Piastri pitted on lap 32 and again on lap 42. Thus, giving himself 15 laps to try and close down Verstappen. In the end, the Dutchman’s pace proved too much to handle, as Piastri had to settle for second.
With this result, Piastri had slipped to third in the overall standings but is now 16 points behind his teammate. Should he win in Abu Dhabi, Norris will have to finish sixth or lower for Piastri to be champion. His chances are slim, but, if his form this weekend is anything to go by, Piastri will fight to the very end.
Further back, Carlos Sainz was able to benefit from the early safety car. Going long on his final set of hards, Sainz hung on to take his second podium of the season. A brilliant result that comes just two days after the fourth anniversary of Sir Frank Williams’ passing.
On a weekend that could have seen him take the title, Lando Norris had a race to forget. After losing out to Verstappen at turn one and gaining track position after staying out under the safety car, Norris retained second after his lap 25 pitstop. However, after coming in for a second time on lap 44, Norris found himself stuck in fifth behind Kimi Antonelli. The Mercedes driver’s valiant defence came to an end on the penultimate lap when he suffered a snap of oversteer that dropped him behind Norris.
A podium in Abu Dhabi will be enough for Norris to win his first world championship; however, with Verstappen and Piastri looming large in his mirrors, Norris’ prospects now look far less secure.
Behind them, George Russell recovered from a messy opening lap to take sixth, ahead of Fernando Alonso, who survived a high-speed spin to secure his ninth points finish of the season.
Charles Leclerc capped off a torrid weekend for both himself and Ferrari with eighth ahead of Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, who did well to salvage a point after starting 16th.
Alex Albon finished 11th ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who had a lonely run to 12th on a weekend that has seen Ferrari get locked into fourth place in the constructors’ championship. A disappointing result to cap off an underwhelming season for the Scuderia.
Franco Colapinto finished 14th ahead of Esteban Ocon, who was hit with a five second penalty for a false start. Pierre Gasly’s Q3 appearance came to nought after that collision with Hulkenberg on lap seven; he finished 16th. Lance Stroll failed to finish, as did Isack Hadjar, who was running in the points until a puncture on lap 56. Ollie Bearman endured a torrid race and also failed to finish, while the damage incurred from his tangle with Gasly forced Hulkenberg out of the running.
With 12 points in hand, a podium in Abu Dhabi will be enough for Norris, but with Piastri still in contention and Verstappen in the form of his life, we are set for a thrilling end to what has been a thoroughly absorbing season.
