How Norris, Verstappen or Piastri Can Win 2025

Lando Norris goes into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as favourite to secure his first Formula 1 world title, but Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri can still overhaul him in the season finale. Here's the situation and every simple permutation that will deliver the 2025 drivers' crown.

Current standings (top three)

Oscar Piastri (McLaren) — 392 points

A win at Yas Marina is worth 25 points.

F1 points for the top 10

1st 25, 2nd 18, 3rd 15, 4th 12, 5th 10, 6th 8, 7th 6, 8th 4, 9th 2, 10th 1

How Norris can win

Any podium (1st–3rd) in Abu Dhabi guarantees Norris the title regardless of where Verstappen and Piastri finish.
If Norris finishes 4th or 5th, he still becomes champion provided Verstappen does not win (Verstappen 2nd or lower).
For lower finishes the required results are:
6th or 7th: Norris wins if Verstappen is 2nd or lower and Piastri is 2nd or lower.
8th: Norris wins if Verstappen is 3rd or lower and Piastri is 2nd or lower.
9th: Norris wins if Verstappen is 4th or lower and Piastri is 2nd or lower.
10th: Norris wins if Verstappen is 4th or lower and Piastri is 3rd or lower.
11th or lower: Norris wins if Verstappen is 4th or lower and Piastri is 3rd or lower.

How Verstappen can win

Verstappen needs a podium to have any realistic chance; in practice he usually needs to win and for Norris to finish off the podium, but other podium permutations are possible.

Verstappen 1st (win): he becomes champion if Norris finishes 4th or lower.
Verstappen 2nd: he becomes champion if Norris finishes 8th or lower and Piastri finishes 3rd or lower.
Verstappen 3rd: he becomes champion if Norris finishes 9th or lower and Piastri finishes 2nd or lower.

How Piastri can win

Piastri must finish 1st or 2nd to remain in championship contention.

Piastri 1st (win): he becomes champion if Norris finishes 6th or lower (Piastri 417 > Norris if Norris ≤6th).
Piastri 2nd: he becomes champion only if Norris finishes 10th or lower and Verstappen finishes 4th or lower.

Tie-breaker rules and a possible tie

A tie on points is possible after the final race. Ties are resolved by countback: most wins, then most second places, then thirds, etc. Remarkably this season Norris, Verstappen and Piastri each have seven wins. The next tiebreak is second places: Norris leads with eight seconds, Verstappen has six and Piastri four. That means any tie involving Norris would go in his favour. One example tie scenario: if Piastri does not win, Verstappen finishes 2nd and Norris 7th, both Norris and Verstappen would reach 414 points — the countback would favour Norris.

A note on impossibilities: it is not possible for Verstappen and Piastri to finish level on points if they occupy the top two places in the final standings, because the combination of race points and finishing positions prevents that specific tie from occurring.

How often has a leader been overthrown in the finale?

2010 - Sebastian Vettel

When is the trophy awarded?

The FIA awards the Drivers' and Constructors' Championship trophies at the annual FIA Prize Gala rather than at the final race. The 2025 FIA Prize Gala is scheduled for 12 December in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. McLaren clinched the Constructors' Championship earlier in the year at the Singapore Grand Prix.

The 2025 title will be decided at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. With three drivers separated by 16 points or fewer, the finale promises multiple possible outcomes and plenty of drama.