Three-way fight for Formula One title spices up Abu Dhabi climax

As McLaren's Norris and Piastri battle on, reigning champion Verstappen threatens to steal the show

- Sandip Sikdar

Nine months and 23 scintillating Grands Prix later, the 2025 Formula 1 season has arrived at a stage which very few could have predicted at the start.

For the first time in 15 years, the paddock will witness a three-horse race in the final GP of the year in Abu Dhabi come Sunday.

Despite trailing his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri for 15 races, Lando Norris finds himself in pole position for the title going into the final weekend of the year, leading with 408 points. The Briton has been in superb form of late, overturning a 34-point deficit to retake the championship lead after six long months.

Irrespective of where his challengers, Australia’s Piastri and Dutchman Max Verstappen finish on Sunday, the 26-year-old will be champion if he takes the podium at the Yas Marina Circuit. But it isn’t going to be that easy as was seen in Qatar where Norris failed to overtake slower cars to end fourth, yielding more points to Verstappen and Piastri, who finished first and second respectively.