Lando Norris's F1 Title Chances in Qatar After Las Vegas Disqualification

Lando Norris's lead in the 2025 F1 Drivers' Championship has been impacted by his and Oscar Piastri's disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix. While Norris initially extended his lead, the DSQ means the points gap to both Piastri and Max Verstappen now stands at 24, making the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix, a Sprint weekend, a crucial battleground for the title.

Why it matters:

The Las Vegas disqualifications have tightened the championship fight significantly, turning what could have been a more comfortable lead for Norris into a much closer contest. With 33 points available in Qatar, the stakes are incredibly high for all three drivers, especially Norris, who is looking to clinch his maiden F1 title before the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

The details:

• Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix for illegal plank wear on their cars.
• Norris had finished second, earning 18 points, while Piastri was fourth. Their disqualifications removed these points from the standings.
• Before the DSQ, Norris held a 30-point lead over Piastri and a 42-point lead over Max Verstappen.
• Current Standings Post-DSQ:
  • Lando Norris: 390 points
  • Oscar Piastri: 366 points
  • Max Verstappen: 366 points
• Piastri is ahead of Verstappen on countback due to having seven wins compared to Verstappen's six.

What's next:

The Qatar Grand Prix is a Sprint weekend, meaning a maximum of 33 points are available (8 for the Sprint win, 25 for the Grand Prix win). For Norris to secure the F1 title in Qatar, he needs to establish at least a 25-point buffer over both Piastri and Verstappen by the end of the Grand Prix.

How Norris can win the title in Qatar:

• Outscore by Two Points: The simplest scenario for Norris is to outscore both Piastri and Verstappen by a minimum of two points across the entire Qatar weekend.
• Grand Prix Victory: If Norris wins the Qatar Grand Prix, he will be crowned the 2025 world champion, regardless of where Piastri and Verstappen finish.
• Sprint Race Impact: Norris cannot win the title in the Sprint race alone. Even if he won the Sprint (8 points) and both Piastri and Verstappen scored zero points, his lead would increase to 32 points. However, with 50 points still available from the Qatar Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi finale, this wouldn't be enough to secure the championship.

The championship fight is now incredibly tight, with Norris's previous advantage eroded. The pressure is on for Qatar, where a strong performance could see him claim the title, but any slip-up will send the battle down to the wire in Abu Dhabi.