Verstappen triumphs in Qatar, sets up three-way title decider in Abu Dhabi

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen kept the championship alive with a commanding victory at the Qatar Grand Prix, forcing the 2025 Formula One title race into a dramatic three way showdown next weekend in Abu Dhabi. With Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri all still mathematically capable of becoming world champion, the season now heads toward one of the most competitive finales in recent years. The title will officially be decided on December 7, 2025, when the lights go out at the Yas Marina Circuit.

The night race at the Lusail International Circuit proved costly for McLaren, whose early strategy error left both Oscar Piastri and championship leader Lando Norris battling to recover. Norris, who led the standings heading into Qatar, finished fourth after losing crucial time due to McLaren’s decision to stay out during an early safety car period.

With Verstappen taking the win and Piastri finishing second after starting from pole, Norris’s title advantage has now shrunk to just 12 points. Verstappen climbs to second in the standings and sits four points ahead of Piastri. Remarkably, all three title contenders now head to Abu Dhabi with seven wins each, amplifying the stakes for the final race.

Verstappen, who overtook Norris at the start and kept pressure on Piastri throughout, described the result as part of his late season resurgence. “We stay in the fight until the end,” he said, reflecting on a comeback from being 104 points behind in August.

McLaren’s miscalculation unfolded on lap seven when Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly tangled, bringing out the safety car. While nearly the entire field pitted, McLaren kept both drivers out. Team principal Andrea Stella admitted the error, saying, “We lost the victory with Oscar and we lost the podium with Lando.”

The race then became a recovery mission for the McLaren duo. Piastri’s rapid 1.8 second pit stop on lap 43 helped him chase Verstappen late in the race, finishing just 7.9 seconds behind. Norris, after rejoining in fifth following his final stop, fought back to pass Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli on the penultimate lap to take fourth.

Williams’ Carlos Sainz completed a strong drive to secure third place. George Russell finished sixth for Mercedes, while Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc claimed seventh and eighth respectively. Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson and Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the points.

With only the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix remaining and just 16 points separating the top three, Formula One now prepares for a blockbuster championship finale on December 7, where every lap will decide the 2025 world champion.