Max Verstappen wins in Qatar to force final race title decider
The 2025 Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship will be decided at the final race in Abu Dhabi, after Max Verstappen secured his seventh win of the season at the Qatar Grand Prix.
Verstappen started third on the grid after a hit-and-miss qualifying, placing him behind two McLarens with Oscar Piastri on pole and Lando Norris in second place.
Four-time world champion Verstappen was able to force his way ahead of Norris into second place during the first lap, as Piastri continued to demonstrate the blistering pace that had seen him dominate the weekend so far, including victory in Saturday’s sprint race.
The crucial moment of the Grand Prix, however, came when a safety car was deployed on lap seven following a crash between Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly of Alpine. Every team except McLaren decided to pit, which ultimately proved to be a costly decision for the Woking-based team and saw an almost certain race win for Piastri instead handed to Verstappen.
McLaren’s strategy also allowed Williams driver Carlos Sainz to secure his second podium of the season, finishing one place ahead of Norris, who finished fourth. Norris’ weekend could have been even worse; however, he was able to overtake Kimi Antonelli and grab what could be a vital two extra points in his quest for a maiden world championship.
Qatar Grand Prix Top 10
P1 - Max Verstappen - Red Bull
P2 - Oscar Piastri - McLaren
P3 - Carlos Sainz - Williams
P4 - Lando Norris - McLaren
P5 - Kimi Antonelli - Mercedes
P6 - George Russell - Mercedes
P7 - Fernando Alonso - Aston Martin
P8 - Charles Leclerc - Ferrari
P9 - Liam Lawson - Racing Bulls
P10 - Yuki Tsunoda - Red Bull
‘Decider in the Desert’ to determine 2025 World Champion
This sets up a mouth-watering fight between Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, in what is the first three-way final race title decider since 2010.
While favourite Lando Norris and his McLaren teammate are looking to win their first-ever world drivers’ championship, the title would be Max Verstappen’s fifth in a row.
Sky Sports F1 is billing it as the Decider in the Desert, and if Verstappen were to win, driver and Sky pundit Jamie Chadwick suggested it would represent his “best world championship” to date.
Current Standings
1st - Lando Norris - 408 points
2nd - Max Verstappen - 396 points
3rd - Oscar Piastri - 392 points
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina takes place at 1pm on Sunday 7th December.
words: Mike Booth
pictures: Red Bull Content Pool