One final stop: Verstappen forces epic title showdown as McLaren falter

Midway through the 2025 F1 season, you could have sworn it was a done deal for Max Verstappen’s title hopes. A season in which he was supposed to equal Michael Schumacher’s record of five straight world titles seemed unattainable — at least from the outside.

But perhaps the flying Dutchman knew something we did not all along.

His Red Bull looked horribly unbalanced, and the team had even sacked long-time boss Christian Horner. The introduction of Laurent Mekies as team principal was unpredictable, especially in an environment desperate for quick results.

Yet, here we are, approaching the final race of the season, and Verstappen has re-emerged as a front-runner in the title race — effectively scooping the ice cream out of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris’s sugar cones.

Verstappen has proved time and again why he is the best in the business, and his performance in Qatar was perhaps the biggest statement yet. With a masterful drive, he earned a three-peat at the Lusail circuit, winning in Qatar for the third consecutive year.

That kind of consistency under pressure only adds weight to his championship challenge and legacy. In contrast, McLaren’s hopes suffered a blow. Norris under-performed, and questionable strategy calls — particularly during the crucial safety-car window — punished both Norris and Piastri.

As a result, Piastri could only manage second, while Norris limped home in fourth. That misstep allowed Verstappen to close the gap when it mattered most.

After the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix, the top three in the Drivers’ Championship stand as follows:

• Lando Norris (McLaren) – 408 points

• Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 396 points

• Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 392 points

With only 12 points separating first and second, and just 16 between first and third, all three remain in mathematical contention heading into the season finale.

This reversal of fortune shows that Verstappen was not merely grappling with an uncooperative car or internal upheaval — he recalibrated, refined and turned adversity into opportunity. The doubters who wrote off his chances mid-season may now have to eat humble pie.

Conversely, McLaren carry all the pressure. Piastri and Norris still hold the lead, but the Qatar weekend exposed cracks: strong race pace, but strategic execution that failed when the stakes were highest. One misjudgment almost undid months of control.

Looking ahead, it is impossible to ignore the dramatic weight behind the final race. The title is not the only prize on the line — so too are pride, legacy and vindication.

If Verstappen delivers in Abu Dhabi, it could be remembered as one of the greatest comebacks in modern F1 history. If Norris or Piastri hold firm, McLaren’s season of consistency will be rewarded.

All roads lead to Abu Dhabi for the 2025 title showdown.