The Qatar Grand PrixTM didn’t decide the Drivers’ Championship, but it fundamentally changed its trajectory. What arrived in Lusail as a McLaren-led title fight left as a compressed, high-pressure three-way battle that will now be settled only at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Rather than confirming a new champion, Qatar exposed how fragile even a points lead can be when Sprint races, strategy calls, and execution all converge on a single weekend.
Where the Championship Stood Before Qatar
Heading into the Qatar weekend, Lando Norris led the Drivers’ Championship, with both Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri still within striking distance. Norris had built a meaningful lead through consistency rather than dominance, enough to put him in control, but not enough to remove risk.
Crucially, Qatar offered multiple points-scoring opportunities through the Sprint and Grand Prix. That meant Norris’ advantage, while real, was never completely safe. A strong weekend from a rival, or a compromised one from McLaren could still reshape the standings.
The title was leaning Norris’ way, but it was not closed.
Qatar Weekend
Oscar Piastri’s pole position underlined McLaren’s raw pace at Lusail, while the Sprint race tightened the championship picture further by redistributing points at the front. By Sunday, margins had already narrowed for Piastri who had gained 2 points on Norris. Verstappen meanwhile lost out relatively by one point.
In the Grand Prix itself an early Safety Car split the field. Red Bull reacted decisively; McLaren took a more conservative approach. That choice proved pivotal.
Max Verstappen capitalised, converting track position and tyre advantage into a controlled victory. Piastri finished second, limiting the damage but missing a chance to emerge as championship leader.
Norris finished fourth, a solid recovery drive, but short of the result needed to put the title out of reach. The result didn’t flip the standings, but it compressed them sharply.
The Standings After Qatar
Drivers’ Championship (after Qatar GP)
1. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 408 points
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 396 points
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 392 points
Norris remains in control, but only just.
With 25 points still available in Abu Dhabi, all three drivers remain mathematically capable of winning the championship. What once looked like a managed run-in has become a weekend where mistakes will likely be calamitous.
Why Verstappen Now Has a Real Route to Retaining His Title
Verstappen exits Qatar having maximised points on a weekend where McLaren did not. The gap to Norris is now small enough that a single result swing can decide the title. Red Bull proved they can still win decisively when execution is clean. Verstappen no longer needs help from chaos, he just needs Norris to finish a few places behind, and for Red Bull to execute another near-perfect Sunday.
Piastri, meanwhile, remains a genuine factor. His pace, composure, and proximity to Norris mean he can influence both the championship fight and its outcome.
Ferrari and Leclerc: Fast Enough to Complicate Things
Ferrari’s Qatar weekend once again reflected the volatility of their season. On pace, the car showed flashes of competitiveness. Over a full race distance, it remained difficult to consistently manage.
Charles Leclerc’s race was defined by constraint rather than opportunity. Balance shifts, brake confidence issues, and strategic compromises forced him into management mode. This was less about performance deficit and more about a car that still resists predictability. After battling with his Ferrari in Qatar, Charles finished 8th and took home 4 points to increase his total in the Drivers Championship to 230 points. So Leclerc lies in fifth place in the Championship behind the top three; he is 178 points off Norris in the lead and 162 behind Piastri in third.
Yet Leclerc’s season shouldn’t be dismissed. Even without title contention, he continues to insert Ferrari into critical points battles. In a championship this tight, that matters. Ferrari may not decide the title, but they can influence who wins it.
Hamilton: An Unfamiliar Place
Qatar was another subdued weekend in a season Lewis Hamilton has rarely escaped on his own terms. The pace wasn’t there, and neither was the strategic flexibility that once defined his race craft.
For the first time in his Formula 1 career, the possibility of completing a season without a podium finish is real. That statistic reflects less on Hamilton himself and more on how unforgiving the modern grid has become. Success is no longer assumed, even for the most decorated drivers in the sport.
What Qatar Really Changed
The season’s final race in Abu Dhabi will be about precision under pressure.
After Qatar, there is no longer any margin for error.
