Oscar Piastri’s quest to become Australia’s third Formula 1 world champion reaches its last lap at the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi this weekend, with the 24-year-old aiming to join Sir Jack Brabham and Alan Jones as Australian winners.

For the first time since 2010, the final round of the season will be a three-way title showdown, with Piastri’s McLaren teammate Lando Norris (408 points), reigning four-time world champion Max Verstappen (396) and Piastri (392) all in contention with 25 points available for the winner at Yas Marina.

Oscar Piastri can still win the title. But it’s a narrow path to victory.Credit: Getty Images

Piastri, whose breakout third F1 campaign has produced seven wins and six pole positions, has led the championship after 15 of 23 rounds.

But a prolonged stumble after he enjoyed a 34-point lead following the Dutch Grand Prix in August – allied to Norris’ best run of the year and Verstappen storming back from a 104-point deficit in eight rounds – has him as the underdog in a season set for its denouement over 58 laps.

Who has the form, momentum, and pedigree in Abu Dhabi? What’s at stake for the winner and losers? And why do a pair of previous title deciders show that a Piastri championship isn’t out of the question?

Norris, whose fourth place in Qatar last weekend came after a calamitous McLaren decision to not pit under safety car conditions cost him a podium and Piastri almost certain victory, will win the title no matter what Verstappen or Piastri do if he finishes on the podium.

The 26-year-old can also win the title if he finishes fourth or fifth – if Verstappen doesn’t win. If he finishes sixth or seventh, and neither Verstappen or Piastri wins, Norris takes the title.

Even if Norris finishes outside the top 10, or doesn’t finish the race, he can still be champion provided Verstappen finishes fourth or lower, and Piastri third or lower.

Verstappen has scored 191 points to the 216 combined by Norris and Piastri since round 15, and has won five of the past eight grands prix. The 28-year-old Dutchman’s........

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