Max Verstappen's win at this morning's Qatar Grand Prix means three drivers are in contention for the championship at the final race of the season.
Meanwhile Kiwi driver Liam Lawson has banked a ninth-place finish, strengthening his campaign for a full-time seat next year.
Starting 12th on the grid, the 23-year-old drove a quiet and controlled race around the Lusail International Circuit, defending his track position after battling with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton at the start.
A late puncture for teammate Isack Hadjar eventually saw Lawson secure a ninth-place finish, securing two championship points and his best result in Qatar to date.
Yuki Tsunoda, Lawson’s main rival for a seat next year, crossed the line directly behind in 10th.
The Kiwi driver is set to have his future made public by Red Bull this week.
With Hadjar likely to be promoted to Red Bull Racing and F2 driver Arvid Lindblad expected to take one of the Racing Bulls seats, it’s between Lawson and Tsunoda for the final spot in the Red Bull stable.
Verstappen crossed the checkered flag first to secure his 70th Grand Prix victory.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri came home in second while Williams’ Carlos Sainz rounded out the podium in third.
Championship goes to the final race
McLaren’s Lando Norris entered the Qatar GP weekend with the possibility of winning the World Driver’s Championship, but a pit-stop strategy blunder from McLaren has now blown the title fight wide open.
A lap-seven collision between Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg triggered a safety car, where almost the entire field seized the chance to pit, taking advantage of the time saved under caution.
But McLaren made the surprising call to have both Piastri and Norris, running in first and second at the time, to stay out - a decision which ultimately backfired.
Once racing resumed, the papaya pair were forced to push hard to recover, but the pit-stop decision ultimately cost them track position and played directly into Verstappen’s hands.
The Red Bull driver, who started third, cruised to first place to narrow the gap between him and championship leader Norris, who ended the race in fourth.
The result has dramatically tightened the championship picture. Verstappen, who trailed Norris by 104 points back in September, is now just 12 points off the McLaren driver.
Piastri, who had a successful weekend bagging eight points in the sprint race and 18 in the main race, sits 14 points behind.
With all three drivers still in contention, the title will be decided in Abu Dhabi next week. And it’s anyone’s game.
The 2025 Formula 1 season finale gets underway on Monday, December 8 (2am NZT).
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