The Qatar Grand Prix 2025 – Where Oscar Piastri’s head is back in the game and Lando Norris could become the 2025 World Champion

The reason why live sports is so exhilarating, is the element of surprise. It's that last minute goal or that unexpected maneuver or the underdog team scoring the winning points. But last weekend at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, formula one fans were treated to one of the harshest surprises in sports. Disqualification. Especially of the world championship leader.

When Lando was heading to the podium, when he held that trophy up and then left the track early with his black hoodie up, you just know he had some idea of what may happen when the stewards meeting was over. Initially the thought was that he

Photo: Lando Norris on the Las Vegas podium (autosport.com)

was upset he didn’t get the win, or he was hard on himself for failing to stick his move at turn one. But then the media started circulating news of both McLaren cars being referred to the stewards for ‘excessive plank wear’.  The pictures circulated of their garages being closed off and then after a long few hours the news came out. Double disqualification.

The points altered and instead of the predicted scenario of Lando Norris being able to easily win the world championship in Qatar; Max Verstappen had levelled points with Oscar Piastri and Norris had the same 24-point lead over the two drivers that he had coming into Las Vegas.

Today it is race day in Qatar where the Championship can be decided upon Lando Norris winning the race or not. If he wins, he becomes the 2025 world champion. If his opponents manage to get to the finish line before him then the race continues into the final stage in Abu Dhabi.

The weekend started with the Sprint qualifications and race and it seems the news of the disqualification gave Oscar Piastri the reminder he needed, that he is still in this title fight. The Australian driver took pole position for sprint and won the sprint race extending his lead away from Max Verstappen and closer to Lando Norris. The drivers’ championship points now stand with Lando Norris at 396 points, Oscar Piastri at 374 points and Max Verstappen at 371 points.

Oscar Piastri continues to make things difficult for his teammate to win as he also set the fastest lap of the day putting him on pole position for the main race tonight. Lando Norris will start next to him in second with Max Verstappen right behind in third. It will be the most important nerve-wrecking start of the season, so far, waiting to see what will happen at turn one.

Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen (Getty Images)

These final races have shown us every element of surprise and kept us on our toes. Just as we have seen last weekend, absolutely anything can happen to switch up the order in today’s race. It is up to each of the three drivers and their teams to put on a perfect show.