Title Fight Set for Abu Dhabi as Formula One Championship Goes to the Final Race

McLaren’s disastrous outing in Las Vegas reopened the Formula One title race, and Max Verstappen’s decisive victory in Qatar has ensured the battle will be settled in Abu Dhabi, where three drivers remain in contention for the crown.

Lando Norris still leads the standings on 408 points, but Verstappen’s win at Lusail has cut the gap to 12, while Oscar Piastri sits just four further back after finishing second. |

With the trio now separated by only 16 points, the pressure has reached its highest level since the dramatic finale of 2021.

The permutations are now clear. Norris becomes world champion with a top-three finish, regardless of what the others do.

But any slip outside the podium opens the door. For Norris, positions four through nine require increasingly favourable results from Verstappen and Piastri, while anything lower than tenth leaves him depending entirely on the failures of both rivals.

Verstappen, chasing a fifth consecutive title, must win and hope Norris finishes fourth or lower. Lower podium finishes remain viable, but only if Piastri and Norris both drop down the order.

Piastri’s task is the most demanding. The Australian needs victory and for Norris to finish sixth or worse, with tighter scenarios in play if he ends the race in second.

If any two of the contenders finish tied on points, the tiebreak comes down to race victories. All three currently have seven, meaning second-place finishes could become the deciding factor, a category Norris already leads.

Abu Dhabi will now decide everything, with each driver entering the final weekend knowing the title remains within reach.