Conditions for the championship title competition in Qatar

      With two rounds to go in the season, Lando Norris leads the drivers' championship by 24 points over Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen. In that scenario, the title could be decided this Sunday at the Qatar Grand Prix.

      The penultimate round at the Losail circuit will feature a Saturday sprint, however the title will definitely not be settled as a result of the sprint. If Norris were to win the sprint while Piastri and Verstappen scored no points, Lando's lead would grow to 32 points, whereas 50 points are available across the Sunday race and Abu Dhabi combined, which leaves Max and Oscar hope of continuing the fight.

      To guarantee the title in Qatar, Lando Norris must gain at least two points on his rivals. He would then arrive in Abu Dhabi with a 26-point lead in the drivers' championship and be unreachable for his pursuers. If Lando finishes no lower than sixth in the sprint, a win at the Qatar Grand Prix would be enough for him to become the 2025 world champion regardless of his rivals' results.

      However, if after Qatar his lead is 25 points, that would still not guarantee the title, since it leaves open the possibility that after the finish in Abu Dhabi Norris and one of the two challengers could be level on points. The championship would then be decided by number of wins, and if equal, by number of second places, and so on. At the moment it's impossible to say who would be champion in that scenario.