Six moments that may cost Lando Norris the 2025 F1 title

This weekend in Abu Dhabi, Lando Norris has a chance to win his maiden Formula 1 world title. A second chance, actually, after his first match point in Qatar went awry as McLaren picked the wrong strategy.

The team may have overwhelmingly dominated the constructors’ championship, with 800 points to runner-up Mercedes’ 459, but it is in more danger than ever in the drivers’ championship as a resurgent Max Verstappen challenges Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Here are the key moments when the current championship leader lost crucial points.

Saudi Arabian GP – Norris shunts out of qualifying

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images

Norris had potential in Jeddah, as shown by his fastest time in Q2, but he lost control of his MCL39 on the Turn 4 kerbs in his first Q3 attempt, which consigned him to 10th on the grid.

That meant he ran a recovery race to fourth position instead of battling title rivals Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen, who finished first and second.

It is impossible to say how many points Norris lost, as nobody can predict how the race would have panned out, but the swing in favour of Piastri could be up to 20 points.

Championship standings:1. Oscar Piastri 992. Lando Norris 893. Max Verstappen 87

Canadian GP – Norris crashes into Piastri

Points swing vs Piastri: -10ptsPoints swing vs Verstappen: -10pts

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images via Getty Images

As George Russell, Verstappen and Andrea Kimi Antonelli locked out the podium positions, Piastri and Norris ended up squabbling over fourth place after qualifying third and seventh respectively.

On lap 66, Norris dived down the inside at the hairpin, but went too deep. Piastri got the inside line into the chicane, but Norris was close on the start/finish straight and got even closer with DRS; however, he misjudged the situation and rear-ended his team-mate.

Norris retired and lost 10 points, assuming he would have finished fifth behind Piastri.

Championship standings:1. Oscar Piastri 1982. Lando Norris 1763. Max Verstappen 155

Dutch GP – Norris retires, Piastri pulls away in the championship

Points swing vs Piastri: -18ptsPoints swing vs Verstappen: -21pts

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Although Piastri led the Dutch GP from start to finish, ending McLaren’s 27-year wait for a grand slam, the race was actually closely contested, as Norris shadowed his team-mate throughout.

That was, until he stopped on the side of the track with a plume of smoke emanating from the rear of his car; McLaren was elusive as to what the issue actually was.

Still, Norris lost the 18 points for second position, while Verstappen gained three as he inherited that very result.

Championship standings:1. Oscar Piastri 3092. Lando Norris 2753. Max Verstappen 205

United States GP – Start kerfuffle takes both McLarens out of sprint

Points swing vs Piastri: 0ptsPoints swing vs Verstappen: -7pts

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

Polesitter Verstappen took the best getaway in the Austin sprint, with Norris briefly securing second place down the inside of Piastri in Turn 1; the Australian attempted to cut back but that meant his trajectory intersected Nico Hulkenberg’s, leading to a collision that took both McLarens out.

One might assume Norris would have retained second place over the duration of the sprint, hence a likely seven-point swing to Verstappen.

Championship standings:1. Oscar Piastri 3362. Lando Norris 3143. Max Verstappen 281

Las Vegas GP – Fine margins make the difference post-race

Points swing vs Piastri: -6ptsPoints swing vs Verstappen: -18pts

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images

While Verstappen dominated the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Norris and Piastri secured second and fourth in the race, enough to give the Briton a comfortable lead in the championship.

As it stood, Norris led Piastri by 30 points and Verstappen by 42.

Alas, both McLarens were disqualified due to the MCL39s’ rearmost skid blocks being too worn out, which meant the gap between Norris and both of his rivals was down to 24 points.

Championship standings:1. Lando Norris 3902. Oscar Piastri 3663. Max Verstappen 366

Qatar GP – Strategy blunder means further points loss

Points swing vs Piastri: +4ptsPoints swing vs Verstappen: -10pts

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images

Piastri led Verstappen and Norris in the early stages of the Qatar Grand Prix, but Hulkenberg’s clash with Pierre Gasly was a turning point.

The safety car neutralised the race at the exact time that cars could pit on the mandated two-stop strategy with a 25-lap cap on stints. McLaren opted against it, unlike everybody else, and lost out.

Piastri losing the win meant Norris actually conceded less ground than he might have done to his team-mate, but Verstappen is now closer than ever.

Championship standings:1. Lando Norris 4082. Max Verstappen 3963. Oscar Piastri 392

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Formula 1How the 2025 F1 title can be won, or lost, at Abu Dhabi GP

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