British driver Lando Norris faces a critical weekend at the Qatar Grand Prix, where he could secure his maiden Formula 1 world championship despite a narrow lead and recent penalties.
He currently holds a 24-point advantage over his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Norris needs to extend this gap to at least 26 points by the end of Sunday’s main race.
This opportunity arises in the 23rd and penultimate round of the season. A recent disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix cut his lead to its current margin.
Norris has 390 points, while Verstappen and Piastri each have 366.
The 26-year-old McLaren driver is under significant pressure from four-time reigning champion Verstappen. Verstappen has mounted a fierce comeback, narrowing a 104-point deficit by 80 points since the Dutch Grand Prix.
To claim the title this weekend, Norris must gain at least two points on both Piastri and Verstappen across the Qatar Grand Prix’s sprint race and main event. A total of 58 points remain available over the season’s final two races, including the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
If Norris wins both Saturday’s sprint race, which offers eight points, and Sunday’s main race, worth 25 points, he would secure the championship without needing to monitor rivals’ performances. Even a sixth-place finish in the sprint combined with a Sunday victory would provide the two-point gain necessary for the title.
Should Norris finish the season tied on points with either Verstappen or Piastri, he would lose the championship based on a lower number of race victories. Verstappen has eight wins, Piastri seven.
The Losail Circuit near Doha presents a demanding challenge. Pirelli, the official tire supplier, has mandated at least two pit stops during Sunday’s main race due to high asphalt wear and temperatures.
The sprint race is scheduled for Saturday at 2:00 PM local time in Qatar. The main race will follow on Sunday at 4:00 PM local time.