What Lando Norris needs to win F1 title at Qatar Grand Prix after Oscar Piastri wins sprint race
Lando Norris will have the chance to be crowned Formula 1 world champion on Sunday at the Qatar Grand Prix.
One of the most thrilling F1 seasons in recent years is coming to an end, with Norris poised to beat McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull star Max Verstappen to the title.
Despite losing ground to his championship rivals at the Las Vegas Grand Prix and the Qatar sprint race on Saturday, the British driver is well-placed to triumph at the penultimate race in the Middle East.
Piastri won from pole in the sprint race in Losail, his first victory in any format since the Dutch Grand Prix in August, with Norris third and Verstappen fourth.
Qatar Grand Prix sprint race results
F1 standings after Qatar sprint race
How can Lando Norris win F1 championship at the Qatar Grand Prix?
Sunday’s race is Norris’ first opportunity to become champion and he will lift the title if he ends the weekend with a lead of 26 points or more.
After the Qatar sprint, Norris leads Piastri by 22 points so he must outscore the Australian by four points. Norris leads Verstappen by 25 points so he need only outscore the Dutchman by one point.
In a full grand prix, the top 10 finishers score points as follows: 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1.
Therefore, victory at the Qatar Grand Prix will see Norris crowned world champion. Here are the full permutations:
Full F1 title permutations
Lando Norris will become F1 champion in Qatar if:
- He wins the race
- He finishes second and Piastri finishes fourth or lower and Verstappen doesn’t win
- He finishes third and Piastri finishes fifth or lower and Verstappen finishes fourth or lower
- He finishes fourth and Piastri finishes sixth or lower and Verstappen finishes fifth or lower
- He finishes fifth and Piastri finishes seventh or lower and Verstappen finishes sixth or lower
- He finishes sixth and Piastri finishes eighth or lower and Verstappen finishes seventh or lower
- He finishes seventh and Piastri finishes ninth or lower and Verstappen finishes eighth or lower
- He finishes eighth and Piastri doesn’t score and Verstappen finishes ninth or lower
Failure to win the championship on Sunday will see the title battle roll over to a nerve-shredding championship showdown at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 7.
Should the drivers finish on the same number of points, the title will be decided by the who has the greater number of race wins. Norris and Piastri have seven wins apiece, while Verstappen has six.
When is the Qatar Grand Prix and how to watch on TV
Qatar Grand Prix key times and dates (GMT)
November 29: Qualifying (18:00 – 19:00)
November 30: Race (16:00)
The F1 season is broadcast in the UK on both Sky Sports and Channel 4.
Sky Sports airs the races, plus practice rounds and qualifying, live, while free-to-air Channel 4 shows highlights of each race following the day’s action.
Viewers with Sky Sports as part of their TV packagecan stream the race via its app. The F1 season is also available with unlimited Sky Sports on a Now TV membership.
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What Lando Norris needs to win F1 title at Qatar Grand Prix after Oscar Piastri wins sprint race
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