F1 title race scenarios: Norris, Verstappen, Piastri in race; check how each can win championship at Abu Dhabi GP

For the first time since 2010, the Formula 1 drivers’ championship is set to be decided in the season’s final race with three contenders in the fray. Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri all can win the title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this Sunday, December 7.

It has been a thrilling season with all three drivers giving stunning performances from time to time. This is the first time since 2010 that three drivers are in title contention in the last race of the season.

Piastri started the year on a high with four wins in first six races. Norris soon picked up pace as the McLaren rivalry intensified before Verstappen mounted a brilliant comeback since the summer break.

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The four-time defending champion has now won back-to-back races in Las Vegas and Qatar to become a solid contender for his fifth straight title.

TOP THREE STATS 👀

It's so close! 🤏#F1 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/KIMwcIJKBh

— Formula 1 (@F1) December 4, 2025

Here we take a look at how Norris, Verstappen and Piastri can win the title.

Current Drivers’ Championship standings

After the race in Qatar, Norris retained the lead with 408 points. His teammate Oscar Piastri remains third with 392 points, while the Dutch superstar separates the McLaren duo at the second position with 396 points.

Norris had a chance to seal the title with a win in Qatar but finished fourth as Verstappen stormed to victory.

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• Lando Norris (McLaren) – 408 points

• Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 396 points

• Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 392 points

How can Lando Norris win F1 Drivers’ Championship?

The English driver remains in the pole position to win his maiden drivers’ title. The simplest equation for him to win the title is to finish on the podium.

A 4th or 5th-place finish will also help Norris claim the title provided Verstappen does not win the Abu Dhabi GP. Finishing 6th or 7th can also lead the Englishman to the championship but only in the case when Verstappen or Piastri do not win the title. After that, the situation gets little complicated.

Basically, if Norris is eighth or lower, he can still win the title if Verstappen finishes outside top 4 or Piastri fails to win the race.

How can Max Verstappen win F1 Drivers’ Championship?

As discussed above, if Norris is on the podium, Verstappen cannot win his fifth straight championship. He also cannot win the title if he finishes fourth or lower.

Even a triumph in Abu Dhabi will only lead him to championship if Norris finishes outside the podium. If the Red Bull driver ends up at the second or third spot, he would have to hope that Norris remains outside top 8 and also that Piastri is not the one who wins the race.

How can Oscar Piastri win F1 Drivers’ Championship?

It is a long, long shot. The Australian cannot win the trophy without a top 2 finish. Even if he wins the race, he will have to hope for Norris to finish 6th or lower to win the title. If Piastri ends up as runner-up, he can only win title if Norris finishes 10th or lower and Verstappen is out of top 4.

What if it is a tie?

There are not many scenarios in which we will see a tie. Norris and Verstappen can, in a few scenarios, finish on the same number of points.

The tiebreaker is the number of races won, where all three drivers are tied at seven. So, the second-place finishes will come into play in case of a tie. There, Norris has the lead with eight points compared to Verstappen’s five, and Piastri’s four.