What Lando Norris has to do to win the 2025 F1 championship at the Qatar Grand Prix

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Lando Norris could secure his long-awaited maiden Formula 1 title at the Qatar Grand Prix if he can do what’s required of him.

The Briton has crossed the line and finished on the podium at each of the last five races, but the Las Vegas Grand Prix threw up an ugly curveball for McLaren.

Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri were subject to a shock disqualification for excessive skid plank wear, stripping them of second and fourth place, respectively.

Unfortunately for them, it means that the door for the drivers’ championship remains ever so slightly ajar for Max Verstappen. With nothing to lose, he’s going to be a dangerous opponent.

Norris and Piastri are working together to improve their team’s papaya rules at every race and lay the groundwork for their fights on track.

But, McLaren have been told to make Piastri number two to Norris by Martin Brundle, who thinks that they need to do everything within their powers to make sure Verstappen cannot, and doesn’t win.

READ MORE: Lando Norris radio message before his F1 Las Vegas GP disqualification exposed a McLaren ‘weakness’

How Lando Norris can claim his first Formula 1 title at the Qatar Grand Prix

Verstappen needs a bigger miracle than ever, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to give up before giving it a go. It all starts with Qatar.

Originally, the gap in the title fight was meant to be 30 points between Piastri and Norris, and 42 from Verstappen to Norris after Vegas.

But the double disqualification only ended up hurting Norris. Verstappen is no longer an afterthought, and Piastri has renewed hope.

The equation is fairly simple for Norris, but slightly complicated by the Qatar Grand Prix being a sprint race weekend.

Across both races, he needs to outscore both Piastri and Verstappen by two points to become champion. It would leave the gap at 26 points heading to Abu Dhabi, with 25 left on the table.

A win on Sunday would almost guarantee him the championship, regardless of the result in Saturday’s sprint. If either of his rivals win, they have a real shot heading into the final race. Sebastian Vettel overturned a 15-point deficit at one race in 2010, and it could happen again.

READ MORE: Qatar Grand Prix race predictions as F1 experts share if Lando Norris can take 2025 title in Lusail

What does being the F1 title favourite mean for Lando Norris in Qatar?

McLaren are treading on thin ice this weekend. Piastri has nothing to lose and can throw everything at his teammate, but he can’t risk a collision that compromises the team’s position.

A double DNF and Verstappen win would throw things wide open, and give Red Bull a shock lead in the title race heading into the final round.

A level of mismanagement like that cannot be afforded. It means that Norris has to be extra vigilant, knowing everyone else has nothing to lose, and place his car well.

Fans will be expecting drama, and they’re likely to get it. For the first time in four years, the title race might be heading to Abu Dhabi, and there’s only one man who can stop it from happening.