F1 | How Lando Norris can still win the championship despite the Las Vegas disqualification. Lando Norris still has a chance to win the 2025 F1 World Championship..

A dramatic twist worthy of a Hitchcock movie reshaped the F1 World Championship standings: the disqualification of both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the Las Vegas Grand Prix reshuffled the deck. Max Verstappen won the Las Vegas GP, reducing the gap to his main rival in the title fight.

Starting from pole position, Norris crossed the finish line in second place, while Oscar Piastri finished fourth. Before the disqualification, the initial gap between the two McLaren drivers was 30 points. The penalties now show a very different situation: Lando Norris’s lead is reduced to 24 points, and Oscar Piastri is now level on points with Verstappen.

Specifically:

• Lando Norris – 390 points
• Oscar Piastri – 366 points
• Max Verstappen – 366 points

The Qatar GP could prove decisive in the championship, as a maximum of 33 points are available across the Sprint Race and the main race. To secure the title, Norris must win the race outright and collect all 25 points, which is the simplest path to victory.

In other words, McLaren’s #4 car must finish ahead of his direct rivals. Only in this scenario can he put himself in a strong position ahead of the final season round in Abu Dhabi. Norris cannot clinch the title in the Sprint Race alone, since the 8 points awarded would not be enough.

After both McLaren cars were disqualified at Las Vegas, Max Verstappen’s chances of claiming his fifth F1 World Championship have significantly increased. Considering his strong form on track, the Red Bull driver remains a very serious contender for the title.

“Usually, the race is always tough for us: we’re not that strong on the tyres, but today it seemed we had a bit more control, and I could push a little more, which unlocked some rhythm,” Max Verstappen said after the race. “I managed to stay out on track a bit longer and effectively split the race in half.”

“It definitely helped me a lot. The car performed quite well. In the end, the gap was pretty good. I just had to feel comfortable on every lap and not overuse the tyres,” added the Dutch driver.