Verstappen vs. Norris: The Fight for the World Title is Decided in Abu Dhabi
The 2025 Formula 1 season reaches its climax in Abu Dhabi, with the championship being decided in the final race. After an exciting race in Qatar, the fight for the title intensifies, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. Max Verstappen, after a dominant victory in the Qatar Grand Prix, positions himself as the main rival of Lando Norris, championship leader. Norris, for his part, finished in fourth position, which adds drama to the contest. Oscar Piastri, who was in second place in the standings, suffered a setback by finishing second in Qatar, relegating him to third place overall. The difference between Verstappen and Norris is reduced to only 12 points, with a maximum of 25 points available in the final race. Piastri, visibly frustrated, expressed his disappointment after the race, indicating that his McLaren team’s strategic decisions may have cost him the victory.“Speechless,” Piastri said on the radio after the race. “I have no words.”
Oscar Piastri
The race in Qatar was marked by a safety car on lap 7, triggered by a crash between Nico Hülkenberg and Pierre Gasly. McLaren’s strategy, by not taking advantage of the safety car for a pit stop, proved crucial, especially considering the 25-lap stint restriction due to tire wear. Verstappen, after his pit stop, stayed close to the McLarens, who still had a stop pending. Piastri, unable to maintain his lead, had to pit on lap 42, which prevented him from fighting for the victory. Norris, with performance issues, made his second stop on lap 45, falling to fifth place. Although he managed to get close to Carlos Sainz in the last laps, he couldn’t overtake him. Sainz, for his part, achieved an unexpected podium finish, demonstrating the competitiveness of his team.“Everything is possible now!”, Verstappen said after the race. “We’ll see. I’m not too worried”.
Max Verstappen
George Russell, Fernando Alonso, and Charles Leclerc completed the points positions, while Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda closed the top 10.“I am very happy, very proud of the whole team, of what we have done today because we came to this weekend thinking it was going to be the most difficult weekend of the year and suddenly we come out with a podium”, said Sainz.
Carlos Sainz
