How can Norris win the F1 title?
Norris has a 12-point lead over Verstappen, who is now in second place. Piastri is a further four points back, 16 off his teammate.
It is a normal race weekend in Abu Dhabi. Therefore, Norris will win the world championship if he finishes on the podium at the Yas Marina Circuit.
A minimum third place (15 points) in Abu Dhabi would give Norris an unassailable 27-point lead.
Fourth place (12 points) would give Norris a 24-point lead and, thus, if Verstappen then won the race, the Dutchman would take the title by one point.
Norris and Verstappen (Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson30 November 2025 18:21
Carlos Sainz after finishing third:
“I’m so happy, so proud of the whole team and what we done today.
“We thought it’d be the most difficult weekend of the year. We improved in so many areas right now, we grabbed all the opportunities.
“Honestly, over the moon with this podium.”
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson30 November 2025 18:15
Lando Norris, who finished fourth:
On not pitting early on: “It’s tough, we have to have faith in the team to make the decision. We shouldn’t have done it, Oscar lost the win and I lost P2.
“We didn’t do a good job today, we’ve done good jobs in other races, not our finest day, but that’s life.”
On papaya rules impact: “Nothing to do with that, everyone keeps thinking that, nothing to do with it.
“I think they were just as quick today as yesterday, they did a better job and made the right call.”
On next steps: “Review things and see what we could have done better.
“We didn’t make the right decision, you can’t get them all right, be normal, do their job, I do my job, if we do that I’ll be fine.”
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson30 November 2025 18:08
As you can imagine, Max Verstappen is beaming on the top step of the podium!
Carlos Sainz a very happy man in third place too!
Never count Max out. He goes into Abu Dhabi with a 12-point deficit to Lando Norris.
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson30 November 2025 17:59
Oscar Piastri after finishing second:
“Clearly we didn’t get it right tonight, there was nothing left out there, tried my best but wasn’t to be out there tonight.
“I think in hindsight it’s pretty obvious what we should have done.
“It’s not all bad, it’s been a really good weekend, pace has been very strong, but a little bit tough to swallow at the moment.”
Oscar Piastri (PA Wire)
Kieran Jackson30 November 2025 17:52
Max Verstappen after winning the race:
“We made the right call to box under the safety car, that was smart. We stay in the fight until then, incredible.
“For us, it was a very strong race on a weekend which was a little bit tough.”
On McLaren not pitting; ”It’s an interesting move. Need to keep the tyres alive.”
Kieran Jackson30 November 2025 17:44
“Speechless. I don’t know any words.”
He is fuming with that strategy.
Kieran Jackson30 November 2025 17:38
The gap is 12 points. Wow.
Verstappen back in P2 for the first time since Japan in race three!
Kieran Jackson30 November 2025 17:34
Verstappen: “Yes unbelievbable, really well done with the strategy guys. Great job everyone!”
Engineer: “It looks like Antonelli just moved over!”
Kieran Jackson30 November 2025 17:29
Max Verstappen wins the Qatar Grand Prix
Max Verstappen takes the title race to Abu Dhabi – it’s his seventh victory of the season!
Oscar Piastri settles for second, with Carlos Sainz in third.
Lando Norris in fourth – and his lead is trimmed down to 12 points over Verstappen! But how big are those late two points in the championship?!
5-10: Antonelli, Russell, Alonso, Leclerc, Lawson, Tsunoda
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson30 November 2025 17:29