Lando Norris has taken control of the F1 world title race ahead of this week’s Las Vegas Grand Prix after a perfect Sao Paulo Sprint weekend with two pole positions and two wins.
But how strong a position is the McLaren driver now in his bid for his first crown?
With season-ending triple-headers taking place in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi over the next three weeks until the 2025 season concludes on December 7th, we take a look at how the battle for the biggest prize in sports is currently shaping up.
What is the latest status on the championship?
Norris currently leads the drivers’ championship with three race weekends remaining, leading teammate Oscar Piastri by 24 points and Max Verstappen by 49 points.
Drivers can earn up to 83 points in the remaining three Grands Prix and one Sprint.
Drivers earn 25 points for winning the Grand Prix and 8 points for winning the Saturday Sprint.
How strong is Norris’s position now?
“He’s almost one race win ahead of Piastri and almost two races ahead of Verstappen,” Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle emphasized at the end of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
“That’s a useful advantage to have at this stage of the season.”
In fact, looking at the results at Interlagos, Norris doesn’t necessarily need to win another race this season to become champion for the first time.
Obviously easier to write than achieve, but second place in all three remaining Grands Prix and the Qatar Sprint will be enough for Norris to take the crown in Abu Dhabi.
If Norris continues to finish second behind Piastri, the Briton will take the crown by two points.
So, given his position, does he now hold the crown in one hand?
Sky Sports F1’s Karun Chandhok said: “I think so based on the form he’s been in.”
“There’s the issue of points difference, but the form he’s shown, the way he’s worked with the team, the core team, has been really strong, especially over the last four race weekends.”
When will the title fight be decided at the earliest?
Currently, the earliest a world title can be won is the penultimate round of the season, the Qatar Grand Prix at the end of November.
Lusail Circuit will host the final sprint event of the season one week before the final race of the 2025 season in Abu Dhabi.
There will be no non-title world coronation ceremony in Las Vegas on Sunday.
Even if Norris wins and Piastri retires at the strip circuit, the Briton’s lead would be 49 points, meaning he still has 58 points left before heading to Qatar.
In order for a driver to be crowned champion in Qatar, he must be sure to finish the weekend with at least a 26-point lead over second place in the standings. For Norris, this means extending his current 24-point lead by another two points over the next two events.
Furthermore, if the result in Las Vegas favors Norris significantly, he could even get his first chance to take the crown at Saturday’s Qatar Sprint if he leaves Sin City with a big enough advantage.
But why isn’t the title fight over yet?
As Brundle says, a 24-point lead with so few rounds left is certainly beneficial, but as the Brit himself emphasized after the Interlagos race, it still doesn’t represent a completely comfortable advantage for Norris.
Because even if he scores 25 points or wins a grand prix, one bad weekend for Norris can change things forever.
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A new look at the 10-second penalty collision between Oscar Piastri and Kimi Antonelli that caused Charles Leclerc’s DNF.
Norris had already experienced it at the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August, losing 25 points to his teammate due to a car-related late retirement while running second to Piastri.
If such a scenario were to happen in Las Vegas, for example, Piastri would suddenly be back in first place by one point heading into Qatar and have a chance, albeit a long shot, to become champion there. Verstappen is also expected to return to the team soon.
Norris spoke about his cautious mindset for the rest of the season despite the points difference. “Imagine having to keep pushing because there are still 20 races left.
“Just keep your head down, stay focused and keep doing what you’re doing. It’s not going to last forever and you’re not going to be at the top in every session. That’s the goal, but at the same time you have to be realistic and accept that. We had two great weekends. We drove very well and the car was very strong, but that can easily change.”
How unlikely are Verstappen’s chances now?
Ever the pragmatist, Verstappen finished 16th in qualifying at Interlagos on Saturday, erasing his already lost chances of winning a fifth consecutive world title.
His best comeback drive from the pit lane start to third place the next day was undoubtedly indicative of his performance this season, but the cold reality of the title result was that he dropped another 10 points behind race winner Norris.
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Check out the best overtakes from Max Verstappen’s incredible performance from the pit lane to the podium at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Verstappen is mathematically still in the chase for Las Vegas, but with a 49-point lead, the permutations are even more precarious. The Red Bull driver will officially withdraw from the race in Qatar if Norris leads by more than nine points in America.
However, Norris certainly has not ruled out the Dutchman just yet.
“I’m sure Max will be a threat when it comes to racing, but you never know when it comes to the championship. So there’s no point speculating or coming up with these things.”
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Max Verstappen praised the Red Bull team for the changes they made ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after the Dutchman finished the race in third place after starting from the pit lane
“I could have won if I had started higher because I was that fast. But that’s racing. Not everyone can do it well and it’s easy to make mistakes in the world we live in.”
“Max is going to be a threat because he’s always there. He’s always there, he’s always fighting. And I’m sure he’ll fight to the end. I’m looking forward to it.”
What is the theoretical maximum points total for a driver?
Norris currently leads the standings with 390 points, meaning he will reach 473 points if he earns the maximum points by the end of the campaign.
Piastri’s theoretical maximum score is 449 points, while Verstappen’s theoretical maximum is 424 points.
F1’s thrilling title race continues with this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports now – cancel anytime with no contract
