2025 F1 Qatar GP Race LIVE: Can Lando Norris wrap up the F1 title in Lusail?

There are multiple permutations to consider this evening, but the basic line is Norris needs to out-score Piastri by four points and Verstappen by one point to leave Qatar as the new champion.

One factor to take into account this weekend, however, is the likelihood of at least two stops for each driver in this race.

Pirelli has imposed a 25-lap maximum stint for the tyres in the wake of high levels of degradation experienced in previous events. 

The high-speed bends, rough kerbs and even rougher run-offs are responsible, so there could be some in-race strategic juggling going on to keep things interesting

When we say Lusail is difficult to overtake on, it is worth considering this fact - by length it is the third longest F1 track on the calendar. 

But the 1m 19s pole-winning lap is also one of the fastest...

That said, there is more to lose than there is to gain today - for all three drivers.

If Norris wins, he is champion no matter what. However, he faces a doubly hard task considering he is starting on the dirty side of the track, which could put the anchors on him beating Piastri to Turn 1.

Moreover, the high-speed, on the limit bends of Qatar make overtaking very difficult, as demonstrated in a decidedly uneventful Sprint on Saturday.

All three title hopefuls fill the top three coming into this race with Piastri on pole from Norris in second and Verstappen in third.

It's definitely a case of advantage Piastri as he bids for his first full-length victory since way back at Zandvoort in August.

Things have gone somewhat awry for the young Aussie in his pursuit to beat team-mate Norris to the 2025 F1 title but he has looked on terrific form again in Qatar this weekend