The penultimate round of the 2025 Formula 1 season concluded at Lusail, Qatar, as the drivers and teams prepare for the final showdown in Abu Dhabi. Max Verstappen claimed a commanding victory, taking 25 points and reigniting the championship battle. Oscar Piastri finished second, while Lando Norris was only able to secure fourth place. Williams’ Carlos Sainz impressed with a strong third-place finish.
Race chaos and key strategies
The Qatar GP was made chaotic by the rule limiting each set of tyres to a maximum of 25 laps. Following the early Safety Car, all drivers except the McLaren duo opted to pit immediately. Verstappen capitalized on a perfect strategy, putting the McLaren strategists under pressure and gaining crucial track position. Behind the leaders, the field remained relatively stable due to the difficulty of overtaking on the Lusail circuit. Williams can celebrate securing a strong position in the constructors’ championship, while Ferrari struggled, scoring only four points through Charles Leclerc and ending any realistic hopes of challenging for second place.
Updated F1 driver standings after Qatar 2025
Verstappen’s win has significantly tightened the championship race, moving him up to second in the standings. Norris, caught in traffic, lost valuable points and now faces a major challenge heading into Abu Dhabi. Updated driver points:
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 408 points
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 396 points
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 392 points
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 309 points
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 230 points
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 152 points
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 150 points
- Alexander Albon (Williams) – 73 points
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 64 points
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 51 points
- Nico Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber) – 49 points
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 48 points
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) – 41 points
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 38 points
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – 33 points
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 32 points
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 32 points
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 22 points
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber) – 19 points
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 0 points
Updated F1 constructor standings after Qatar 2025
The constructors’ championship also saw notable shifts after Lusail, with McLaren extending their lead, while Ferrari dropped further behind in fourth. Updated standings:
- McLaren – 800 points
- Mercedes – 459 points
- Red Bull – 426 points
- Ferrari – 382 points
- Williams – 137 points
- Racing Bulls – 92 points
- Aston Martin – 80 points
- Haas – 73 points
- Kick Sauber – 68 points
- Alpine – 22 points
