Lando Norris Requirements Come Out As F1 Champion For The 2025 Season

McLaren's Lando Norris had to be on the podium in Abu Dhabi this weekend if he wanted to be the 2025 world champion (Instagram/@lando).

JAKARTA The 2025 Formula One (F1) world title race heated up again after Max Verstappen managed to carve out an unexpected victory in the Qatar Grand Prix F1 on Sunday, November 30, 2025, evening local time.

Racing at the Lusail Circuit thwarted Lando Norris' chance of locking the title early as well as opening up competition for the world title this year involving three riders to the final or first series since 2010.

Norris actually only needed to win the race to ensure the first world title in his career in the most prestigious car racing event. However, McLaren's strategic error left him out of the top three and finished fourth.

The 26-year-old started the race from second place, side by side with his Oscar Piastri team-mate. However, the beginning of being too careful made Verstappen immediately overtake him at Turn 1.

Things got even more difficult when McLaren chose not to get into the pit under the initial safety car. The decision made Norris and Piastri have to pursue Verstappen with a much worse strategy.

After Red Bull completed two mandatory pit stops, both McLaren cars fell behind significantly despite leading the race in position.

Piastri finally came out of the pit for the second time with a difference of about 17 seconds behind Verstappen. Even though he had appeared strong all weekend, Piastri finally had to settle for finishing in second place.

The latest results obtained in Qatar made Verstappen not only maintain the chances of winning, but also overtake Piastri in the standings. He is now only 12 points behind Norris and four points ahead of Piastri who is right behind him.

Norris will arrive at the Yas Marina Circuit with 408 points, narrowly ahead of Verstappen who collected 396 points, and Piastri with a collexk of 392 points. Mathematically, all three can still become world champions.

To become a world champion this year, Norris must win the race there or finish second or third. If that happens then it doesn't matter what results Verstappen and Piastri get.

If Verstappen wins in the Abu Dhabi race, then Norris should not finish outside the top three. If that happens then Verstappen will win his fifth straight world title, an extraordinary comeback considering he was 104 points behind in the middle of this season.

Meanwhile, Piastri's chances are very small. To become world champion, he must win in Abu Dhabi and hope Norris finishes in sixth position. If that happens then Verstappen will bite his finger even if he reaches the second podium.