Verstappen Wins in Qatar to Set Up Final-Round Title Showdown

Max Verstappen secured an important victory at the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix, closing the gap in the championship battle after Lando Norris finished only fourth. Oscar Piastri took second place, setting up a dramatic finale to the season.

The race took an unexpected turn early on after a Safety Car and new rules limiting tyre stints to 25 laps forced teams into different strategies. Verstappen made a strong start, jumping from third on the grid to pass Norris into Turn 1 and follow race leader Piastri closely.

A collision between Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly brought out the Safety Car, pushing teams to adjust their pit strategies. While most drivers made their first of two mandatory pit stops, McLaren chose to keep both Piastri and Norris on track. This decision later cost them track position, allowing Verstappen to move ahead.

Piastri rejoined the race in a comfortable second after his final stop and maintained strong pace until the end. Norris, however, struggled to overtake Carlos Sainz and Kimi Antonelli after his pit stop, limiting him to fourth place.

Norris’ lead in the Drivers’ Championship shrinks from 22 points to just 12 ahead of the final race, with Piastri 16 points behind.

Race Results – Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix 2025

1. Max Verstappen – 1:24:38.241 (25 points)
2. Oscar Piastri – +7.995s (18 points)
3. Carlos Sainz – +22.665s (15 points)
4. Lando Norris – +23.315s (12 points)
5. Kimi Antonelli – +28.317s (10 points)
(Top 5 shown)

Sainz secured his second podium of the season for Williams, while Antonelli’s fifth-place finish helped Mercedes move closer to second in the Constructors’ standings.

Further back, a late puncture cost Isack Hadjar a top-six finish, promoting George Russell into P6. Fernando Alonso survived a full 360-degree spin to finish seventh, followed by Charles Leclerc, Liam Lawson, and Yuki Tsunoda.

Alex Albon finished just outside the points in 11th, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and the rest of the midfield pack. Several drivers did not finish, including Hadjar, Lance Stroll, Ollie Bearman, and Nico Hulkenberg.

With the championship margin now tighter than ever, all eyes turn to the season finale where Norris, Verstappen, and Piastri remain in contention for the 2025 title.