The Formula 1 championship battle is far from decided entering the final round of the season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Dec. 7.
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Lando Norris had a sizable lead over the competition earlier this season, but he now only has a 12-point advantage over four-time champion Max Verstappen. This is far from a healthy cushion considering that Verstappen scored a combined 50 points the last two weekends while winning the Las Vegas Grand Prix and the Qatar Grand Prix.
Norris, for comparison, scored zero points in Las Vegas after stewards disqualified him and teammate Oscar Piastri. Piastri scored 18 points by finishing second in the Qatar Grand Prix while Norris scored 12 points by finishing fourth.
DRIVER STANDINGS (after 23/24 rounds)
It's going to be a grandstand finish to the season 🍿#F1 #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/WzJSpwRnK7
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 30, 2025
The McLaren drivers — Norris and Piastri — made it through the Qatar Grand Prix without any post-race controversy, but they fell victim to an ill-fated strategy. An early Safety Car intervention altered the tire strategy. When other competitors made their first stop of the day, the McLaren duo stayed out on the track.
Verstappen took advantage and jumped to the front of the pack. He remained there for the rest of the race while scoring his 70th career win. Piastri recovered to deliver a podium finish, but Norris only salvaged a fourth-place finish.
"This was an incredible race for us," said Verstappen, per F1. "We made the right call as a team to box under the Safety Car. That was smart. Of course, I'm super happy to win here and stay in the fight until the end. Incredible.
"I think [the pace] was a little bit offset because of it all, but for us I think it was a very strong race on a weekend where it was a little bit tough. We still won the race and that was the most important thing."
The championship battle will end at the Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday, Dec. 7. The Grand Prix will take place at 8 a.m. ET with ESPN providing coverage. Three drivers will enter the weekend in contention for the championship, but only one will celebrate.
