Norris hunting the F1 title in Qatar: How can he achieve it?

Lando Norris has the opportunity to secure the Formula 1 drivers’ championship this Sunday at the Qatar Grand Prix. The driver and his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, suffered a setback at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, being disqualified hours after the race. This unexpected turn added excitement to an already tense championship, allowing Max Verstappen, of Red Bull, to get closer to the top in his quest for a fifth consecutive title. With two races remaining, the championship is at a crucial point. Norris could seal the championship this weekend in Qatar.

Current Ranking

Norris is still the favorite, although the advantage he seemed to have over Piastri and Verstappen has been reduced to only 24 points between the three, after the double disqualification in Las Vegas. The disqualification benefited Verstappen and ironically also Piastri, who had lost ground after finishing fourth in the Nevada race. Here’s the ranking:

• Norris – 390 points
• Piastri – 366 points
• Verstappen – 366 points

Piastri is ahead of Verstappen in the current standings, as he has achieved seven victories compared to Verstappen’s six. Tiebreakers are decided by the countback system. Norris and Piastri are tied with seven victories each. In case of a tie in points and wins, second places are considered, and so on.

How can Lando Norris win the title at the Qatar Grand Prix?

Only Norris can win the championship in Qatar, given his advantage in the standings. He is the only one guaranteed the possibility of continuing to compete in Abu Dhabi, regardless of what happens this weekend. In the two remaining events, there are 58 points available, but 33 of them are contested in the Qatar Grand Prix, which includes a sprint race. Norris cannot secure the title on Saturday in Qatar, regardless of the sprint race result. In mathematical terms, Norris will be champion if he leaves Qatar leading the championship by 26 points or more, which means surpassing Piastri and Verstappen by two points or more (adding the sprint and the grand prix). If he fails to secure the title in Qatar, Norris will likely maintain an advantage for the final in Abu Dhabi. The biggest advantage that Verstappen or Piastri could have when reaching the final would be nine points, which would require Norris not to score points in the sprint and the Qatar Grand Prix. The F1 sprint race awards points to the top eight finishers (8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1), while a Grand Prix awards points to the top ten (25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1).

Who is in better shape?

Norris has been the most consistent driver in the last races, with podiums in Singapore and Austin, followed by consecutive victories in Mexico and Brazil. Despite the disqualification in Las Vegas, Norris achieved pole position. Verstappen has also had a notable performance since the summer break, with four victories in the eight subsequent races. Verstappen’s performance is due to several reasons, including Red Bull’s improvements at the Italian Grand Prix. A fifth championship this year could be considered one of the most outstanding in F1 history. Piastri’s form has been less consistent.

His victory in Zandvoort on August 31st seemed like a crucial moment, opening a 34-point lead after his teammate, Norris, retired.

Since then, Piastri has lost that advantage and hasn’t finished a race ahead of Norris since the Dutch Grand Prix.