After the Brazil Grand PrixInterlagos Circuit on November 2, 2025, Lando Norris clings to a 24-point lead in the 2025 Formula One World Championship—but the fight for the title has become a three-way thriller. Norris, the 25-year-old British driver for McLaren Racing Limited, sits at 390 points after a dominant pole-to-flag win in São Paulo. Yet just weeks ago, his lead was 30 points. Then came the bombshell: both he and his teammate, Oscar Piastri, were disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand PrixLas Vegas Strip Circuit on November 23, 2025. Suddenly, Piastri and Max Verstappen of Oracle Red Bull Racing were tied at 366 points. The twist? Piastri holds the tiebreaker over Verstappen—seven wins to six. And now, with just two races left, the championship could be decided not by points, but by who crossed the line first on the track.
The Brazil GP That Changed Nothing—And Everything
Norris won the Brazil Grand Prix in perfect conditions after a chaotic sprint race that saw Piastri crash out on lap seven, triggering a red flag when Franco Colapinto and Nico Hulkenberg collided at Turn Three. Norris, starting from pole, controlled the 24-lap main race with precision. Behind him, Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes claimed second, and George Russell completed the podium. It looked like a clean sweep for McLaren. But the real story wasn’t in São Paulo—it was in the paperwork from Las Vegas.Las Vegas: The Disqualification That Rewrote History
At the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Norris finished second behind Verstappen, with Piastri fourth. That would’ve meant Norris at 408, Piastri at 378, Verstappen at 366. Instead, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) announced at 11:45 PM UTC on November 23 that both McLarens violated Article 37.3 of the Sporting Regulations—unauthorized team radio instructions during a safety car period. The penalty: disqualification. The effect? Norris’ lead evaporated. Piastri’s 12-point cushion over Verstappen vanished. And Verstappen, who’d trailed Norris by 42 points just two weeks earlier, suddenly had a lifeline.Tiebreaker Rules: The Silent Killer in the Championship
Here’s the brutal truth: if Norris, Piastri, and Verstappen all finish with 390 points after Abu Dhabi, Norris wins. But if Piastri and Verstappen finish tied at 390, Piastri takes second—because he won seven races this season, Verstappen six. That’s the tiebreaker. It’s not about poles, top fives, or consistency. It’s about wins. And Piastri, despite being overshadowed by Norris’ consistency, has been the more explosive performer in clutch moments. Verstappen, meanwhile, has been the ultimate closer—seven podiums in his last eight races. He doesn’t need to win every race. He just needs to outlast them.
McLaren’s Internal War: A Team Divided
McLaren Racing Limited, headquartered in Woking, Surrey, has never faced a scenario like this. Two drivers tied for second, one of them their own. The team’s strategy in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will be delicate. Should they favor Norris to lock down the title? Or let Piastri fight Verstappen while Norris conserves tires? Team principal Andrea Stella has said nothing publicly—but insiders say the garage is split. Norris, born in Bristol, has been the steadier hand. Piastri, from Melbourne, has the hunger. And now, the team’s legacy hangs on who they back.The Road to Abu Dhabi: Two Races, Infinite Possibilities
The final two races are a perfect storm for drama. The Qatar Grand PrixLusail International Circuit is a high-downforce track where McLaren has been strong. Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit is a night race with unpredictable weather. Verstappen thrives in pressure. Piastri thrives in chaos. Norris thrives in control. The FIA’s decision in Las Vegas didn’t just reset the points—it reset the psychology. Now, every overtake, every pit stop, every radio call carries the weight of a world title.
Historical Echoes: When Disqualifications Changed History
This isn’t the first time a disqualification flipped a championship. In 2008, Lewis Hamilton was handed the title after Felipe Massa’s Ferrari was disqualified from the Brazilian GP due to illegal fuel flow readings—only for the FIA to reverse it days later after protest. In 2021, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton’s title battle ended in controversy at Abu Dhabi, with a last-lap safety car decision that still divides fans. This year’s Las Vegas ruling feels even more brutal: two drivers from the same team, both penalized, one of them the championship leader. The FIA claims it was a clear breach. But fans wonder: was it justice—or chaos?Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Las Vegas disqualification affect the championship standings?
Before the disqualification, Lando Norris led Oscar Piastri by 30 points (408 to 378), with Max Verstappen at 366. After the FIA removed both McLaren drivers’ results, Norris dropped to 390, Piastri to 366, and Verstappen remained at 366. This cut Norris’ lead from 30 to 24 points and erased Piastri’s 12-point edge over Verstappen, turning a two-man battle into a three-way tie at second.
Why does Oscar Piastri have the tiebreaker over Max Verstappen?
Under F1’s tiebreaker rules, if two drivers are level on points, the one with more race wins takes precedence. Piastri has seven victories in 2025; Verstappen has six. Even if they finish tied on points, Piastri will rank higher. That’s why Verstappen must win both remaining races and hope Piastri falters—he can’t afford to rely on consistency alone.
What’s at stake for McLaren Racing Limited in the final two races?
McLaren can still win its first constructors’ title since 2008. With 756 points, they lead Red Bull by 118 points. But if Norris and Piastri clash in Qatar or Abu Dhabi—blocking each other, damaging cars, or triggering team orders—it could cost them the title. The team’s reputation for fair competition is on the line, and internal tension could ripple into next season’s driver market.
Can Max Verstappen still win the drivers’ title?
Yes—but only if Norris scores no more than 23 points across Qatar and Abu Dhabi, and Verstappen wins both races (50 points). That would give him 416 to Norris’ 413. But if Piastri scores even 15 points, Verstappen must also outpace him. The math is tight: Verstappen needs perfection, while Norris only needs to finish third in both races.
How does the Interlagos Circuit impact race strategy?
Interlagos is a high-altitude, bumpy track with unpredictable weather. The 2025 race saw heavy rain in the sprint, which played into Norris’ favor—he’s exceptional in wet conditions. But the main race was dry, and McLaren’s upgraded aerodynamics gave them superior tire management. Teams now know that tire degradation at Interlagos can be more severe than at Abu Dhabi, making pit strategy critical in the final races.
Who are the top contenders outside the top three?
George Russell leads the chase at 294 points, but he’s 96 behind Norris. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are both over 150 points back, and neither has won since Monaco. The real battle for fourth is between Russell and Kimi Antonelli, with Mercedes likely to push Russell to secure second in the constructors’ standings. But for the title? Only Norris, Piastri, and Verstappen matter now.
