Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri were disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix due to illegal plank wear on their McLaren cars.

Norris had originally finished second, which would have extended his championship lead to 30 points over Piastri but the disqualification reset his lead to 24 points over both Piastri and Max Verstappen.

This unexpected ruling tightened the title race as Verstappen moved back into contention, now level with Piastri on 366 points while Norris leads on 390 points.​

How Norris Can Still Seal the Championship in Qatar

Qatar’s Grand Prix weekend includes a Sprint race, offering 8 points, and the main Grand Prix, supplying 25 points, for a total of 33 points up for grabs.

To clinch the championship in Qatar, Norris must outscore both Piastri and Verstappen by at least two points across the weekend. Although he cannot secure the title solely in the Sprint race, a victory in the Grand Prix accompanied by a sufficiently strong points cushion will crown him world champion.​

The key target is maintaining a lead of more than 25 points after the Qatar Grand Prix, which would make the Abu Dhabi finale irrelevant for the title race. Achieving this would mark McLaren’s first drivers' championship since Lewis Hamilton’s last with the team in 2008.​

The Road Ahead: Title Battle Intensifies

With only the Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds remaining, the pressure mounts on Norris to deliver flawless performances amid fierce competition. Verstappen’s resurgence and Piastri’s consistency keep both challengers very much in the hunt, making the final two races a gripping showdown.

However, Norris’s composure and racecraft throughout the season suggest he can handle the championship pressure and secure the crown.​

Though Las Vegas was a major blow, the mathematical advantage remains with Norris. The coming weekend at Lusail will be decisive in this thrilling 2025 F1 championship finale.