F1: Norris vs Piastri vs Verstappen, The Fight for the World Title!

Formula 1 on fire! Three races remaining, three drivers with aspirations and a crown at stake in the 2025 World Drivers’ Championship. After 21 exciting rounds, full of unexpected twists and moments of high tension, the 2025 season reaches its climax. The fight for the title is more open than ever.

The Protagonists

Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen face off in an epic battle before the last three races that will define the championship. Who will take the victory?

Current Situation

After a perfect weekend in São Paulo, Norris leads with a 24-point advantage over his McLaren teammate, Piastri. Both young drivers are seeking their first F1 crown. The current world champion, Max Verstappen, from Red Bull, is 25 points behind. George Russell from Mercedes occupies the fourth position, but his chances of winning the title are minimal.

Who is in better shape?

Although Verstappen achieved three victories in four races before the Mexico City Grand Prix, Norris is undoubtedly the most outstanding driver at the moment. Norris, after some difficulties with the McLaren car at the beginning of the season, has achieved pole position and victory in consecutive races, including a Sprint victory in Interlagos. He has gone from being the hunter to being the hunted. On the other hand, Piastri’s performance has declined. The Australian was the favorite after winning the Dutch Grand Prix, but he hasn’t managed to get to the top of the podium since then, nor has he even achieved a podium finish in the last four races. This has spurred Norris to take the lead in this intense battle for the title.

MOHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Images

When could the championship be defined?

In the three remaining races (25 points per victory) and one Sprint (eight points), a driver can obtain a maximum of 83 points. After the next race in Las Vegas, there will still be 58 points at stake. This means that Norris, even with a perfect weekend and without his rivals scoring points, would not be able to secure the championship in Las Vegas, as his maximum advantage would be 49 points. Therefore, the title could be defined in Qatar, where a driver would need to have at least a 26-point advantage over the runner-up.

Four seconds in the races and the Sprint would be enough for Norris to be crowned champion, while Piastri and, especially, Verstappen, need the Briton to have problems in some race.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix is the next stop for Norris, Piastri, and Verstappen.Clive Mason – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images

Upcoming Races

Las Vegas Grand Prix

Points at stake: 25

Schedule:

• Friday, November 21: Practice 1 00:30-01:30 GMT, Practice 2 04:00-05:00 GMT
• Saturday, November 22: Practice 3 00:30-01:30 GMT, Qualifying: 04:00-05:00 GMT
• Sunday, November 23: Race 04:00

Qatar Grand Prix

Points at stake: 33

Schedule:

• Friday, November 28: Practice 1 13:30-14:30 GMT, Sprint Qualifying 17:30-18:14 GMT
• Saturday, November 29: Sprint 14:00-15:00 GMT, Qualifying 18:00-19:00 GMT GMT
• Sunday, November 30: Race 16:00 GMT

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Points at stake: 25

Schedule:

• Friday, December 5: Practice 1 09:30-10:30 GMT, Practice 2 13:00-14:00 GMT
• Saturday, December 6: Practice 3 10:30-11:30 GMT, Qualifying: 14:00-15:00 GMT
• Sunday, December 7: Race 13:00

What else is at stake in the final races?

In addition to the battle for the drivers’ title, with the Constructors’ Championship already secured by McLaren, the most interesting fight in the last races is between Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari. These three teams are competing for second place in the team standings, which is crucial for financial rewards and momentum for next season. A team that finishes further down in the championship will have more time in the wind tunnel to work on next season’s car. With a major rule overhaul for 2026, finishing fourth instead of second might not be the worst thing in the world. After a good weekend in São Paulo, Mercedes is in second place with 398 points, with Red Bull, powered by Verstappen, 30 points behind. After a disastrous double retirement, Ferrari is fourth with 362 points.