Winner Takes All: How Norris, Verstappen, Piastri Could Seal The 2025 F1 Drivers' Championship At Abu Dhabi GP

Last Updated:December 02, 2025, 10:49 IST

Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri enter the Abu Dhabi GP tied with seven wins each, with the championship hinging on one dramatic sunset race at Yas Marina.

For the first time since 2010, three drivers now go into the final GP of the calendar year, with a shot at winning the F1 championship (X)

For the first time since 2010,  F1 is heading into the Abu Dhabi finale with three drivers still in the championship fight — and honestly, you couldn’t script it better.

Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri all roll into Yas Marina with seven wins each, and with just 25 points left on the table, the entire season comes down to one sunset race in the desert.

And Qatar? That’s where everything exploded into chaos.

A bold — let’s be real, baffling — McLaren strategy call during an early safety car handed Verstappen a golden opportunity. While every other team zigged, McLaren zagged, sacrificing Piastri’s lead and ceding track position straight into Verstappen’s lap.

The Dutchman didn’t need a second invitation: he took the win, his seventh of the year, matching both McLaren drivers. Piastri salvaged second, while Norris ended up fourth, losing a chunk of cushion he really couldn’t afford.

So now? Norris is still the favourite… but only just.

The math is wild but clear: Verstappen is 12 points back, Piastri is 16, and both need a podium plus a Norris meltdown.

But, stranger things have happened — especially in Abu Dhabi — so no one’s sleeping easy.

How Lando Norris Can Win The 2025 Title

For Norris, the job is simple: finish on the podium, and the title is his, no matter what anyone else does.

Even if he slips outside the top three, as long as he beats both Verstappen and Piastri, he’s golden.

Beyond that, it becomes a web of “if he finishes here and they finish there," but in short, he just needs to avoid catastrophe.

Here are all the different scenarios where Norris comes out on top:

• Norris wins
• Norris is 2nd
• Norris is 3rd
• Norris is 4th, Verstappen doesn’t win
• Norris is 5th, Verstappen doesn’t win
• Norris is 6th, Verstappen doesn’t win, Piastri doesn’t win
• Norris is 7th, Verstappen doesn’t win, Piastri doesn’t win
• Norris is 8th, Verstappen is 3rd or lower, Piastri doesn’t win
• Norris is 9th, Verstappen is 4th or lower, Piastri doesn’t win
• Norris is 10th, Verstappen is 4th or lower, Piastri is 3rd or lower
• Norris doesn’t score, Verstappen is 4th or lower, Piastri is 3rd or lower

How Max Verstappen Can Win The 2025 Title

Verstappen’s path? Win and hope Norris finishes fourth or worse. If Max comes second or third, he still has a shot — but only if Norris tumbles down the order and Piastri doesn’t sneak in a win.

If the four-time champion is to claim his fifth title (in a row, by the way), then he needs any of the following scenarios to unfold:

• Verstappen wins, Norris is 4th or lower
• Verstappen is second, Norris is 8th or lower, Piastri doesn’t win
• Verstappen is third, Norris is 9th or lower, Piastri doesn’t win

How Oscar Piastri Can Win The 2025 Title

And Piastri? He’s in the toughest spot.

But there’s no point in crying over spilt milk. Piastri needs any of the following scenarios to unfold to win his maiden title:

• Piastri wins, Norris is 6th or lower
• Piastri is 2nd, Norris is 10th or lower, Verstappen is 4th or lower

Three drivers. One race. A title on the line. Abu Dhabi is about to get absolutely chaotic.

About the Author

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

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