…lead Formula 1 championship leader Lando Norris right now, sitting on 390 points. He is now one race away from winning his first drivers’ title. Honorable mention – Lando Norris With three Grands Prix and one sprint race season remaining, Norris has been remarkably consistent. This has catapulted him to the frontrunner position, increasing the lead over his nearest competitor, Oscar Piastri.
Norris doesn’t even have to win another race this season to win the championship. He’s on course to be exploited by Piastri, who has collected 366 points so far but currently holds a 24-point lead over the latter. That important lead might prove insurmountable as the season approaches its conclusion. Piastri started the weekend of the São Paulo Grand Prix just one point behind Norris. This set up a pivotal moment in the battle for the championship. After the primary, he now suddenly finds himself in a much deeper hole.
Norris’s Strong Performance
After an incredible race at the São Paulo Grand Prix, Norris not only performed confidently but continued to build upon his championship standing and lead. The fact is, he doesn’t need another win. His knack for maximizing into strong finishing positions has been a key to his success this season.
Norris’s consistently smart driving combined with the level of technical support he gets from his team clearly, McLaren’s been helping him maximize his points haul make a winning combo. If he ends up second in every other race, he’ll get at least 61 more points than that. That would bring his new total to 451 points. This grand total is enough to keep him out in front of Piastri. If Piastri wins the rest of the races from here, he can only end the season with 449 points at the most.
Max Verstappen’s weekend performance in Brazil was otherworldly. He ended the grand prix in third and crossed the line fourth in the sprint race. Still, he was able to score 20 points with this effort, remaining well within striking distance of the title. He is still 25 points behind Piastri, with 341 points altogether.
Piastri’s Challenges Ahead
Oscar Piastri could not be under any greater pressure, as he tries to eat away the deficit to Norris. Following the São Paulo Grand Prix, where he struggled to maintain pace, Piastri expressed his frustrations about the weekend’s performance.
“There’s clearly some things we need to sort out. Just a tough weekend from a number of fronts, so I’ll focus on that instead.” – Oscar Piastri
Piastri has three races remaining to not only defeat his teammate but possibly have to hold off Verstappen. With only a small window to capitalize on Norris’s potential missteps, Piastri must aim for victories while hoping that Norris falters in upcoming races.
The urgency grows with each race as every event becomes more important for Piastri. As for Lando’s strategy, it has to change from just beating Norris to making sure he beats Verstappen every time (at least consistently).
The Road Ahead
Short of the maximum 100 points, there are 83 points still up for grab in the final stretch of the regular season. Every race will be crucial for every competitor as they try to earn their place at the top of the championship.
For Norris, maintaining his current form without needing any wins places him in a favorable position heading into the final races. For Piastri and Verstappen, each point will be essential as they vie for their places on the championship podium.
Each race weekend builds the fan excitement even higher. It all rests in the balance — fans rapturously tune in as Norris chases his first championship, or if Piastri pulls off a sensational return to claim victory in this exhilarating Formula 1 season.
