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The drivers’ championship story takes centre stage this weekend as Formula One heads to Qatar for the penultimate round of the 2025 season, writes Naman Arora.
Lando Norris will be arriving with a slimmer cushion than he expected after both McLaren cars were disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix for a technical breach.
The ruling cost him second place and 18 points, trimming his lead to 24 points over Oscar Piastri, with Max Verstappen now tied with the Australian on 366 points.
A 24-point margin still places Norris firmly in control, yet the swing from what would have been a 30-point advantage adds tension to a weekend that already carries decisive weight.
When Norris won in Sao Paulo he knew Las Vegas would not settle the title and that Qatar, combined with the final Sprint of the year, would provide his first real chance.
With 58 points available across the Sprint and the remaining two Grands Prix, the calculation is simple.
If Norris ends Sunday with a lead of at least 26 points over both Piastri and Verstappen, the championship will be his.
Behind the title fight, the midfield remains tightly compressed. Racing Bulls, Haas, Aston Martin and Kick Sauber are split by only 22 points.
Lusail rewards rhythm, clean sequencing through long corners and careful tyre management, which can shuffle the order rapidly across a stint.
Racing Bulls bring strong momentum and an increasingly efficient package through medium and high-speed sections. Their ability to score when others falter keeps them leading this group as they chase sixth in the Constructors standings.
Haas remain competitive when they maintain tyre temperatures, and steady race execution.
Aston Martin will seek a reset after an uneven run.
Fernando Alonso’s strength in high-degradation races offers hope, given his knack for protecting tyres across long stints.
Lance Stroll’s weekend hinges on a clean qualifying session to avoid being mired in traffic.
Kick Sauber face the steepest challenge. Their car struggles in long, loaded corners, and Qatar amplifies those weaknesses, although opportunistic safety car timing could still bring an opening.
Tyre strategy will also dominate the weekend as Pirelli has imposed a maximum stint length of 25 laps due to safety concerns on the high-energy Lusail layout.
With the race set for 57 laps, every driver must make at least two pit stops, ensuring strategy remains fluid and mistakes can be costly.
